Jean Mensa, Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) and President of the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA), has advocated for the implementation of electronic voting (e-voting) systems throughout Africa to address the recurring issue of rejected ballots.
Speaking at the 9th Annual Continental Forum of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) in Accra, as reported by GBC, she underlined the importance of Africa embracing technology to eliminate human error in voting processes and increase election credibility.
Mensa emphasised the shortcomings of traditional paper-based voting procedures, saying,
In this day of technological innovation, we cannot continue to rely solely on traditional paper ballots, which are prone to errors and misinterpretations.
A well-designed e-voting system has the ability to significantly reduce the number of rejected ballots and ensure that every vote is correctly counted.
The EC Chairperson also emphasised the necessity of working together with electoral boards, civil society organisations, and political stakeholders to implement innovative solutions that promote voter education and speed voting processes.
Urgency in dealing with rejected ballots
Justice Sophia Akuffo, a former Chief Justice of Ghana and Member of the Council of State, has cautioned that Africa’s democratic institutions face serious challenges if the issue of rejected ballots is not handled promptly.
Democracy is jeopardised when a significant number of votes are declared illegitimate. This weakens not only the electorate’s expressed will, but also public trust in electoral systems’ integrity.
Justice Akuffo urged electoral bodies to use the event as a platform for substantive reforms, saying,
This summit must go beyond simple debates and produce practical solutions to protect our electoral processes and strengthen democracy across the continent.
Forum focus and international support
The two-day forum, organised by the African Union’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (DPAPS) in collaboration with the AAEA and supported by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), is titled “All Votes Count: Addressing the Problem of Invalid or Rejected Ballots in Africa.”
Patience Chiradza, Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security at the African Union (AU), underlined the organization’s commitment to developing democratic government in Africa.
If voters are unsure how to properly mark their ballots, we are failing in our responsibility. Electoral commissions must prioritise the adoption of clear and accessible voting instructions in order to avoid unnecessary vote rejections.
Fabio Bargiacchi, Founder and Executive Director of ECES, emphasised the need of international collaboration in enhancing Africa’s electoral institutions.
