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Posted by Chester Morton / Tuesday 13 December 2016 / No comments
The stages of an election in Ghana
THE STAGES OF ELECTIONS
Establishment of an
Independent Electoral commission
The establishment of an independent Electoral Commission is
one of the first stages of an election. In most countries, especially where
democracy is being introduced or re-introduced, the constitution makes
provision for the establishment of this commission. Its core mandate is to
ensure that elections are periodically held in a free and fair manner. Where
this commission already exists, this stage is skipped.
Delimitation of a country into constituencies
Where a country is already delimited into constituencies,
this stage is no longer necessary in every election but where it is not, the
Independent electoral commission of the country in question creates
constituencies from where representatives would be elected to represent the
people. In Ghana, after every population census, the Electoral Commission
studies the new demographic distribution and uses that to decide whether new
constituencies should be created or not.
Registration of political parties
Another stage of an election is to register the political
parties that wish to participate in the political process. Where political
parties already exists, this stage in no more necessary but where not, then
this is carried out. Sometimes new political parties are formed which need to
be appropriately registered by the electoral Commission.
Creation of a voters’ register
It is important for the Electoral Commission to register the
voters who will exercise their mandate as voters. Where the voters’ register
already exists, there is no need for a new one unless there are serious
problems associated with. However, those who have attained the voting age of 18
years need to be put on the register so a registration period is created for
such people to be added to the register. Apart from that those who for various
reasons did not register previously, are allowed to register also.
Exhibition of voters’ register
In order to ensure that that registered voters have their
names on the voters’ register, the voters’ register is exhibited so that people
can go and check whether their names are in register. Those, whose names are
not in the register, draw the attention of the Electoral Commission. Any
anomalies detected are quickly rectified before the day of election.
Filling of nomination forms
Candidates who wish to be elected are allowed to file their
nominations both as parliamentary and presidential candidates. A nomination
window is opened by the Electoral Commission within which every aspiring
candidate must file his nomination forms. The Electoral Commission has the
powers to disqualify anybody who fails to properly file his nomination.
Procurement of voting materials
All the materials that are going to be needed for the conduct
of the election are procured. The ballot boxes, the indelible ink, printing of
ballot papers and collation sheets and any others that would be needed on the
day of election are procured.
Education of voters
The education of voters takes two dimensions. On the one
hand, the Electoral Commission educates the people on when and where voting
would take place, and the procedures for voting. It also educates political
parties on the procedure of the election and especially the time frame within
which election results would be released. The political parties also educate
the voters on the issues that are at stake in the elections and why they must
for party ‘A’ or party ‘B’.
Distribution of ballot materials
All the materials that would be needed for the D-day are
transported into the constituencies so that it would be easy to distribute in
time for the voting to begin on time on the day of voting. Sometimes, depending
on the signals on the grounds, the Electoral Commission may create buffers
close by so that if there is any shortage, the shortage can be quickly dealt
with.
Day of voting
On the voting day, all polling stations become active and all
qualified voters go to their polling stations to vote for their preferred
candidate. After the close of the polls, the ballots are counted and the
results for each polling station declared right there and then.
Collation of results
After all the ballots have been counted at the various
polling stations, the results are collated at the constituency collation centre
and transmitted to a regional collation centre. In the case of parliamentary
candidates, the final results for the constituencies are declared. In the case
of the presidential election, the Electoral Commissioner is the returning
officer and the only person mandated to declare the results. So there is a
national collation centre where all the results for the entire country are
collated and the final results declared.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. Trace the stages through which an election passes before
the results are declared.
2. How are
elections organized in your country?
ALSO READ:
The functions of an Electoral Commission
The advantages of Universal Adult Suffrage
ALSO READ:
The functions of an Electoral Commission
The advantages of Universal Adult Suffrage
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GOVERNMENT
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