Executives of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have sent a strong word of caution to delegates who plan to publicly display cast ballots during the party’s super delegates congress on Saturday August 26, 2023.
“It is essential to note that publicly displaying cast ballots constitutes a criminal offense. We hereby serve notice that those who violate this provision shall be subjected to legal repercussions in accordance with the law. Delegates are hereby informed that any cast ballots publicly displayed will be rejected”, the party revealed in a statement.
To reduce the number of aspirants from ten to five as mandated by the party’s constitution, some 900 NPP delegates will decide on which five aspirants will participate in the national conference on November 4, 2023.
In a statement announcing protocols delegates need to ensure that voting ends smoothly, the NPP noted that publicly displaying cast ballots constitutes a criminal offence and offenders will face the law.
The protocols, the Presidential Elections Committee seeks to put in place to ensure smooth process include entrusting the entirety of the electoral procedure to the Electoral Commission, with the paramount responsibility of ensuring a transparent, fair, and unfettered election.
“Furthermore, the exclusive oversight of security matters rests with the police, and access beyond security perimeters is restricted solely to duly accredited delegates, aspirants, committee members, or their representatives, and agents of the aspirants. We kindly remind delegates to carry their identification cards and to verify their names at the initial security checkpoint”, the statement pointed out
The Presidential Elections Committee is therefore assuring all relevant parties, including stakeholders, delegates, aspirants and the public that with these guidelines in place, no individual can decipher the voting preferences and patterns of specific voters after the voting process concludes”.
Below is the statement