CODEO blames low turnout for voter registration on poor publicity

Domestic elections observers say low turnout on Thursday for the limited voter registration exercise was because the Electoral Commission (EC) failed to adequately create awareness for the event.

National Coordinator of the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), Kofi Arhin, says although the first day of many voter registration exercise in the country have been characterized by low turnout, yesterday’s situation could well be the result of a lack of education campaign.

“Publicity has been very low in this particular exercise. They [EC] have not come out [to do publicity]. In the first place they were late in coming out to do publicity. And then when they started, it was just on the radio and little bit on the television,” said Mr Arhin.

Mr Arhin was speaking on news analysis programme, PM Express Thursday afternoon.

Joy News Correspondents across the country reported Thursday that the opening day of the limited voter registration was marked by very low turnout of eligible persons.

In parts the country, the situation was compounded by heavy rainfall.

In the Volta region, scores of first-time voters at the Ketu South and Anlo constituencies were unable to register due to a heavy rainfall which disrupted the exercise.

Low turnout was not the only setback for the exercise that the Electoral Commission hopes will get 1.2 million certified for voting on November 7, 2016 as it was also marred by incidents of rejection of applicants who did not either have the requisite identification or guarantors.

That too, according to Mr Arhin, can be blamed on poor education.

He explains had the modality and requirements for registration been publicised properly, applicants would not come to polling station without guarantors for instance.

He admits however that the low turnout could be because many Ghanaians usually warm to such events at the last minute.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected]