The Electoral Commission has redefined what over-voting should ‘mean’ for the upcoming elections indicating that the total number of registered voters would not be part of the equation for calculating over voting.

This means that if the total number of votes in the ballot box plus the spoilt ballot is MORE than the total number of verified voters then there is OVER VOTING.

The earlier definition was that if ‘the TOTAL number of votes cast plus spoilt ballot was MORE than the total number of REGISTERED VOTERS, then there is over voting.’

The main difference is that old definition was using the total number of voters on the register and the new definition is using only the total number of VERIFIED voters.

Addressing editors of some media houses in Accra, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, madam Charlotte Osei said “the number of persons on the register is no longer tied to the definition of over voting. We have reduced the numbers just to ensure that we have an easier and more efficient electoral process.”

She also indicated that this was part of the ongoing electoral reforms the commission is embarking on following recommendations from the Supreme Courts decision after the 2012 election petition.

The definition of over voting had been a major subject of discussions during the 2012 election petition when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) filed a suit against the Electoral Commission and President John Mahama over the then elections.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @3newsgh