Dumsor: EC Procures Generators to Mitigate Disruptions During Limited Voter Registration Exercise
Electoral Commission Assures Ghanaiana of Smooth Voter Registration Despite Power Crisis
The Electoral Commission (EC) has taken proactive measures to guarantee a seamless limited voter registration exercise scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2024, across the nation, amidst concerns over the prevailing power crisis, locally known as “dumsor.”
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, addressed these plans during a press briefing on Monday, May 6, 2024, emphasizing the commission’s commitment to preventing any disruptions due to power challenges. Mensa revealed that the EC has procured generators for all district offices to ensure continuous voter registration services in the event of power outages.
“We are trying hard, we’ve made arrangements to ensure that we don’t have challenges because of dumsor. What we’ve done is to have all our district offices rent generators so that in the event where there’s dumsor, that can kick in,” stated Jean Mensa.
In addition to the generator backups, the EC outlined contingency plans in case of unforeseen circumstances, including switching to an “offline” mode where voters would be registered manually, with their details stored on a pen drive.
The upcoming limited voter registration exercise aims to register approximately 623,000 first-time voters across the country. To accommodate this significant task, registration will take place in all 258 district offices of the commission, along with an additional 785 centers to cater to individuals who may face challenges accessing the district offices. Furthermore, 25 public universities have been designated as registration venues to ensure broader accessibility.
Despite the ongoing power challenges in the country, the Electoral Commission has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted voter registration process. The procurement of generators and implementation of backup plans underscore the EC’s dedication to upholding the democratic process and facilitating citizen participation in the electoral system, despite prevailing challenges.