EC Sets Oct 1-20 For Transfer Of Votes, Appointing Proxies

Voters desirous of transferring their votes or appointing proxies for this year�s general election can do so from October 1 to October 20, 2012. A statement signed by a Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC) in charge of Operations, Mr K. Sarfo-Kantanka, said �only voters who have resided in a new constituency for a minimum of two months are eligible to transfer their votes to that constituency� and that such applicants would have to show proof of residence in the new constituency. It said the move was in accordance with regulations 20 and 23 of the Public Elections Regulations, 2012, CI 75. �The public is cautioned that once an application for transfer of vote is effected it shall be permanent and shall become the new polling station of the applicant in subsequent elections,� it stated. On the appointment of proxies, the statement said it was open only to registered voters who, due to ill health, would not be able to vote on polling day and voters who would be absent from the constituency and would, therefore, not be able to vote on polling day. �Voters who wish to appoint proxies are required to provide the correct names of their proxies as captured in the voters register. In addition to that, applicants are required to provide the polling station code, voter ID number and residential address of the persons they intend to appoint as proxies,� it added. The statement said all applications for transfer of votes or for appointment of proxies should be made at the District Office of the EC where the applicant currently resided in the case of application for transfer of vote, and where the applicant registered as a voter in the case of application for the appointment of a proxy �between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm on all working days within the period�. It said applicants must appear in person with their voter ID cards to complete the appropriate forms, saying that �no application for transfer of vote or for appointment of proxy will be entertained after Saturday 20th of October, 2012.�