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The Electoral Commission (EC) is proposing to close polls on election day at 3pm instead of 5pm to provide more room for counting and collation of results.

According to the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, the proposal was initially billed to take effect in the 2020 elections but had to be shelved because of COVID-19.

In her speech at the assessment of the 2020 election with the IPAC, Madam Jean Mensa said the Commission brought up the issue in the 2020 Elections, but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the stringent, and necessarily time-consuming safety protocols instituted at the various polling stations, they were compelled to put this proposal on hold.

She adds that over the past months, however, this proposal has re-surfaced from various sections of the public, and indeed, their own experience from the 2020 Elections has revealed that it is a workable proposal, as by 1pm, most polling stations were empty, suggesting that this is a workable proposal.

“Therefore, this is a reform we intend to put forward,” she said.