- EC assures integrity of special voting process.
- Special votes stored in police armories until December 7.
- EC dismisses claims of immediate counting of special votes.
- EC clarifies special voting eligibility rules.
The Electoral Commission’s (EC) Director of Training, Dr. Serebour Quaicoo, has assured the public of the integrity and transparency of the special voting process in the upcoming election. He emphasized that after the close of polls on special voting day, the ballots are securely stored in designated police armories to prevent tampering or manipulation.
Dr. Quaicoo explained that the special votes are not counted immediately, contrary to popular misconceptions, but are instead sealed and stored securely until December 7. The sealed ballots are then added to the regular votes cast on December 7, and the combined votes are counted at the coalition center.
Dr. Quaicoo stressed that the law prohibits the counting of special votes on the special voting day, ensuring that the process remains transparent and fair. He also explained that the EC’s seal and political parties’ seals are used to secure the ballots, providing an additional layer of protection against tampering.
Dr. Quaicoo addressed concerns raised by the Seventh-day Adventist Church regarding Saturday voting, clarifying that the issue is purely religious and does not affect special voting eligibility. He emphasized that special voting eligibility is explicitly defined by law, and only certain individuals, such as journalists, security personnel, and EC officials, are eligible to participate.
Dr. Quaicoo assured that the EC has had extensive meetings with the Seventh-day Adventist Church to address their concerns and ensure that the use of church facilities for polling stations does not impact the election. Dr. Quaicoo encouraged the media to commence accreditation processes early to avoid last-minute rushes and ensure smooth election coverage.
