The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, has expressed concern over the high number of rejected ballots in elections.
According to him, many rejected ballots are cast by elderly individuals who struggle to vote properly due to vision problems.
During his final tour of the North East Region on Friday, October 4, Mr Mahama said that the law permits these individuals to be assisted at polling stations by a relative who can help them cast their vote.
As part of his efforts to minimise spoiled ballots in the upcoming December 7 elections, the former president directed the party’s polling station executives to identify elderly individuals who might have difficulty voting and ensure they receive assistance on election day.
“Let me remind you that for some of our elder people who have problems with their eyesight, sometimes they find it difficult to vote. And so they go and put their thumbprint anywhere and it becomes a rejected ballot.
“All the polling station executives, identify the elderly people who find it difficult to vote. They are allowed to go with their relatives to the polling station,” he said.
Mr Mahama also encouraged voters who know any elderly person with an eyesight problem or other difficulties to assist them in casting their vote properly, stating that these persons can inform the presiding officer on the day of the election.
“We want to bring rejected ballots as low as possible. So please, if you know anybody who finds it difficult to vote, let them go with somebody to help them so that they can put their thumbprint at the right place. We don’t want any rejected ballots,” Mr Mahama added.
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