The Electoral Commission (EC) has disclosed the schedule for key activities leading up to the presidential and parliamentary elections slated for 2024, with nominations set to be received from September 9 to 13, marking a pivotal moment in the political calendar.
Following the nomination period, the EC will conduct the balloting for positions on the presidential ballot paper on September 23, 2024, followed by parliamentary balloting on September 24, 2024.
In an exclusive revelation to the Daily Graphic, the EC outlined plans to declare the results of the 2024 presidential polls within three days of the voting exercise, provided all goes according to plan.
Ahead of the elections, the EC will initiate a voters' registration exercise from May 7 to May 27, 2024, followed by a nationwide campaign to replace missing voter ID cards starting May 30, 2024.
Preceding the registration, a comprehensive 56-day public education campaign will be conducted from April 1 to May 26, 2024, aimed at informing citizens about the registration process.
Furthermore, the EC intends to submit the provisional voters' register to political parties between July 9 and 18, 2024, and subsequently organize an exhibition of the voters' register from July 15 to 24, 2024.
The final voters' register is expected to be submitted to political parties between August 30 and September 5, 2024.
Additionally, the EC plans to engage stakeholders outside political parties and the public through its “Let the Citizen Know” series to enhance transparency and understanding of the electoral process.
Special provisions will be made for Special Voting on December 2, 2024, aimed at accommodating security agencies and accredited media practitioners who will be on duty during the main election day on December 7, 2024.
While the EC has not set a specific legal requirement for result declaration timelines, it aims to announce the presidential results within a maximum of three days following the polls. Regional Collation Centres will play a crucial role in announcing results at the regional level.
All the dates provided are subject to review, according to sources within the EC, highlighting the flexibility of the electoral process to adapt to unforeseen circumstances or logistical adjustments.