Parties to draw lots on position on ballot paper on Friday

Accra, Oct. 20, GNA - Political parties contesting the Presidential Election on December 7 2004 would draw lots on Friday to determine their positions on the ballot paper.

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Wednesday that the ballot papers to be used in voting at both the presidential and parliamentary elections would bear the photographs and symbols of the candidates. Independent candidates would follow the candidates of political parties in an alphabetical order.

The name, picture and symbol of a vice presidential candidate would not appear on the ballot paper.

The position of candidates in the parliamentary election would be the same as the presidential candidates.

Dr Afari-Gyan said where two parties supported one presidential candidate; only the particulars of the candidate's party would appear. In the 1992 and 1996 General Election, the candidates were arranged on the notice of poll and ballot papers according to the time of filling of nominations.

However, the EC used the balloting system in Election 2000. Balloting for the last General Election was done on September 5, 2000.

Filing of nominations for the presidential and parliamentary elections, which begun throughout the country on Wednesday and would close on Thursday.