EC sets October 5-9 for aspirants to file nominations

• Posted on July 6, 2020July 6, 2020
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana will from October 5, 2020 begin receiving nominations from eligible presidential and parliamentary nominees from all political parties, as well as independent candidates.

This will form part of the preparation processes towards the impending general and parliamentary elections slated for December 7, this year.
Balloting for positions set for October 12 and 13
On October 12 and 13, 2020, five days after all candidates have filed their nominations, there will be Regional Interparty Advisory Committee (RIPAC) and District Interparty Advisory Committee (DIPAC) meetings, where balloting for positions will be done. Notices of nomination will also be posted in that period, from October 12 to 15.
October 14 to November 22-Printing and distribution of the final voters’ list
This will be followed by the printing and distribution of the final voters’ list from October 14 to November 22, 2020.
July 13-November 30, 2020- Stakeholder engagements
Following the current voter registration exercise, there will be stakeholder engagements at national and regional levels from Monday, July 13, to Monday November 30, 2020.
July 22- August 14- review all challenges encountered during voter registration
From July 22 to August 14, there will be a sitting of all District Registration Review Committees to review all challenges the commission encountered in the mass voter registration exercise. Within that same period, from August 1 to August 10, there will be a mop-up registration exercise.
August 18- IPAC on meeting on voter register exhibition  
An Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on the voters register exhibition exercise is also scheduled to be held on Monday, August 18.
August 20 – 21- RIPAC and DIPAC meetings on voters register exhibition
This meeting will be followed by a RIPAC and DIPAC meeting from August 20 to 21 on the voter register exhibition exercise.
September 3 – IPAC meeting on conduct of the 2020 polls
On September 3, there will be an IPAC meeting on nominations and the conduct of the 2020 polls.
September 8 to 11- Appointments of returning officers and deputies
Five days after this meeting, from September 8 to 11, the appointments of returning officers and their deputies will be done.
September 8 to 9- RIPAC and DIPAC on conduct of the 2020 elections
RIPAC and DIPAC meetings on nominations and the conduct of the 2020 elections will be held from September 8 to 9.
September 11 to 18- Exhibition of the voters’ register
The exhibition of the voters’ register will then take place from Friday, September 11, to Friday, September 18, 2020.
September 17- Issue of writ of elections and gazette publication
A writ of elections shall be issued by the EC on the September 17. A gazette publication of this writ will be done on the same day.
October 11 to October 18- Recruitment for election officials
Recruitment for election officials will be done from Sunday, October 11, to Sunday, October 18.
RIPAC and DIPAC meeting on balloting positions of all independent parliamentary candidates
There will be another round of RIPAC and DIPAC meeting on the balloting positions of all independent parliamentary candidates.
October 15 and 16- Dialogue with all presidential and parliamentary candidates
The EC will have a dialogue with all presidential and parliamentary candidates from October 15 and 16, 2020.
October 26 to November 24- printing and gazetting of Notices of Poll
The printing and gazetting of Notices of Poll will be done from October 26 to November 24.
October 26 to November 24- Printing and distribution of Ballot papers
Ballot papers shall be printed and distributed from Monday, October 26, to Tuesday, November 24, this year.
November 6- Distribution of the final voters’ to political parties
Copies of the final voters’ register will be distributed to the various political parties on November 6, a month and a day to the elections.
November 12- Final IPAC meeting between EC and political parties
Six days later, on November 12, there shall be a final IPAC meeting between the EC and the political parties to update them on the preparations towards the elections.
November 18 and 19- RIPAC and DIPAC meetings
RIPAC and DIPAC meetings under the same theme shall be held on November 18 and 19.
December 1- Special voting takes place
A special voting exercise shall be conducted on Tuesday, December 1, followed by the national election six days later.
December 10- Declaration of presidential election results
Results for the presidential elections will be declared on December 10, three days after the elections have been held.
December 28- If there should be run-off
In case none of the presidential candidates gets the required 50.1% of valid votes cast, a run-off between the two leading candidates will be held on Monday, December 28.
December 30-gazette of Parliamentary election results
Parliamentary election results will be gazetted on Wednesday, December 30, 2020.

By Selorm GBORBIDZI-Accra