The Concept Of The Floating Voter

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's dictionary, a floating voter refers to a person who has not decided which way to vote in an election, or one who does not consistently vote for the same political party. In Ghana, these floating voters have to a very large extent, determined the outcome of presidential elections. It is significant to not that, the floating votes become visible mainly during Election run-offs.

In Ghana, Elections 1979, 2000, and 2008 run-off provide perfect examples of floating votes. In Election 2000 for instance, the run-off between Mills and Kufuor recorded a whopping 14.8% of floating votes to Kufuor's votes. Although both Kufuor and Mills had 48.4% and 44.8% in the first round respectively, these floating votes increased Kufuor's votes to 57.4% making him the winner in Election 2000.

Similarly, less than 40,000 floating voters voted for Candidate Mills to beat Nana Akufo-Addo in Election 2008 run-off. Though, some people are still doubting the source and actual number of these floating votes, it is estimated that, the floating votes in Ghana hover between 300,000 and 500,000, using the 2012 general elections as reference.

It must also be pointed out that, these floating voters are a mixed group of people - literate and illiterate, who vote based on a number of issues. Some of the issues include personality traits of the presidential candidates. The personality traits are humility, character, beauty, charisma, physique, character, among others. Because majority of the floating voters are somehow "politically illiterates" and vulnerable, they may be influenced easily with a cup of salt, rice, bottle of oil, GHC5, cloth, laptop, car, cement, roofing sheets a few weeks to the national elections.

They may therefore vote for a candidate who is able to provide them with the afore-mentioned items on the Election Day. They can even look at a candidate's posture or picture on a billboard and vote for the Candidate with good looks. Such floating voters can swallow propaganda and lies hook, line, and sinker and vote against who may be tagged with so many negativities.

Admittedly, the NPP under Nana Addo's flagbearership has not been able to win the hearts and minds of these floating voters since 2008. This is because, the floating voters do not like him. And they have proven their dislike for Nana Addo on three electoral occasions in 2008 first round, 2008 second round, and 2012 respectively. In short, Nana Addo is not the choice of the Ghanaian floating voter.

What the NPP needs to do now in order to win political power is simple. The party's numerical strength (entire membership and sympathisers) cannot elect a president. Therefore, there is a need for the delegates to elect a Flagbearer, whose attributes could meet the demands of these floating voters. By so doing, the NPP could get the required floating votes to be added unto the party's core votes to make victory easier.

The NPP therefore needs to take a close look at the factors that made other Candidates win over Nana Akufo-Addo. Was it about popularity that both Mills and Mahama beat Nana Addo? Was it about the NPP's economic record or that of NDC's? Was it about experience of the Candidates or their Campaign Messages?

You would agree with me that none of the above actually accounted for both Mills' and Mahama's victories over Nana Addo. It is thus imperative for the NPP to elect a Candidate who could attract the floating votes so that when they are added to our standard votes as NPP members, the party can win presidential elections. But, if the NPP delegates continue to present the same Candidate - Nana Akufo-Addo for the 2016 elections, then NPP members and sympathisers shouldn't expect any different results after 2016 elections.

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, Asante Bekwai-Asakyiri

(Free SHS Ambassador)
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