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Introduction & Summary

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) deployed 30 of its trained, accredited, and non-partisan Observers to the by-election organized by the Electoral Commission (EC) in the Talensi Constituency of the Upper East Region on Tuesday, July 7 2015.

CODEO Observers were stationed at representative randomly sampled polling stations spread across all the 22 Electoral Areas and also undertook roaming observation throughout the constituency on polling day.

On polling day, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, CODEO issued two interim statements at mid-day and close of poll situational reports of its observation exercise. CODEO observers reported on opening and set-up of polls, voting, presence of security and collation and declaration of results.

This statement captures CODEO consolidated and final report on the just ended Talensi by-election. The statement is based on reports submitted by its stationary and roaming observers deployed in the constituency.

Overall, CODEO observed that the polls were properly conducted in accordance with electoral regulations and procedures, and that the conduct of the polling, processes for counting and declaration of results were generally free and fair in spite of some minor irregularities. CODEO condemns the violence that characterized the polls, although, occurring mainly outside of polling stations.  

 

Detail Observation Findings

Below are CODEO’s observation findings.

 

·Opening and Set Up of Polls

CODEO Observers noted that voting generally started between 7:15am to 7:45am at most of the polling stations. A few polling stations, however, started after 8:00am due to delays in setting up polling centres. For instance, at the Pusu-Namogo Primary School and Balungu Primary ‘B’, voting commenced after 8:00am.

Observers also reported that the polling stations were set up so that voters could cast their ballots in secrete at all polling stations observed. Polling stations were also accessible to persons with disability and the elderly.

On the presence of political party agents at polling stations, CODEO observers reported that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Peoples National Convention (PNC) had their polling agents present in almost all polling stations observed. The Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), the New Vision Party (NVP) and the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) also had agents at some polling stations observed.

 

·Voting

CODEO Observes noted that all polling stations observed had biometric verification machines with additional back-ups. There were no reports of breakdown of biometric devices in the polling stations observed.

CODEO Observers further reported that all voters were biometrically verified before casting their ballots. Some voters however had minor difficulties with the verification devices and had to try more than once before being recognized by the devices.