Electoral Commission of Ghana’s Limited Voter Registration Exercise Records Over 182,000 New Voters

Electoral Commission of Ghana’s Limited Voter Registration Exercise Records Over 182,000 New Voters

The ongoing limited voter registration exercise in Ghana, which began on September 12, 2023, is an initiative of the Electoral Commission (EC) to expand voter participation. In the first six days of the exercise, the EC has registered 182,831 new voters. The exercise, scheduled to last for 21 days, was initially intended to register about 1.35 million individuals who have recently turned 18 or eligible Ghanaians who have not previously registered.

The Electoral Commission has made a strategic adjustment to its original goal. Initially aimed at registering 1.35 million new voters, the Commission has now revised the target to 52% of the target population during this exercise. The revision is an attempt to ensure that the majority of the target population is registered within the stipulated period.

Demographic Breakdown of the New Registrants

The new registrants comprise 53.9% males and 46.1% females. This demographic breakdown provides insight into the gender distribution among the new voters, an essential factor that could influence future electoral strategies and policies.

A regional breakdown of the registration shows a diverse distribution across the country. The Ashanti Region leads the pack with 29,255 registrants, accounting for 16% of the total new registrants. It is followed by the Greater Accra and Eastern regions, which have registered 27,264 (14.9%) and 19,327 (10.6%) new voters, respectively.

Implications and Future Prospects: Continuous Voter Registration in 2024

The ongoing voter registration exercise signifies the Electoral Commission’s commitment to expanding voter participation and ensuring that all eligible Ghanaians are given the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights. The revision of the target and the demographic and regional breakdown of new registrants can influence future electoral strategies and policies.

According to the Commission’s budget and work plan for 2023 approved by parliament, the EC plans to facilitate long-term continuous registration throughout 2024. Instead of being based on an electoral basis, the registration will occur at district offices for several months. This approach is designed to allow eligible Ghanaians, particularly those in difficult-to-access locations, to participate in the registration process. The EC will conduct a mop-up registration of voters in these areas using their data and that of the Statistical Service, ensuring that no eligible voter is left out.