The electoral calendar indicates that the entire electioneering process will last for 17 days. Where aspirants will be filing for nomination on Tuesday, June 16 to Sunday, June 4, 2020, via social media.
Unlike the usual interface of vetting witnessed over the years. Prospective candidates will have the session on Facebook live on Tuesday, June 23 with polls on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.
Speaking to the UG Electoral Commissioner, Ms. Sharon Pinsung Dokurugu. The electoral schedule was released on Tuesday. Which was after the General Assembly approved guidelines for the conduct of the online elections.
Find below the electoral calendar:
Responding to the decision to conduct elections online. She attributed the decision to the final years who will be exiting the university soon.
“BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS ARE, LEVEL 400 STUDENTS WILL BE DONE WITH THEIR EXAMS ON JULY 2ND AND WE WANT THEM TO VOTE BEFORE THEY COMPLETE”.
Also, she notes the severity of the covid-19 pandemic and the partial lifting of the ban on tertiary education. Which has necessitated the decision to conduct the elections online.
Online Elections
According to her, the General Assembly approved the decision to conduct the elections online. After the commission has long submitted the C.I on electoral guidelines for the online polls.
Reacting to the aspirants’ involvement in the approved decision. She explained that unlike national electoral procedures, aspirants seemingly do not have a say in such a decision. Until there is a formal complaint to the General Assembly in the process. However, no aspirants objected pursuant to the approval.
Responding to the modus for such online elections. She indicated that contacts have been made by a software developer. Which was for the development of an application that will link students ID number to a specific code. Which will then be given to students to cast their vote. Therefore, she believes, will eliminate ineligible voters from partaking in the exercise.
On issues of credibility, Miss Sharon responded that due to the robust nature of the system, the strong room will be notified when any student attempts to log-in twice. She reckons that this will keep the process uncompromised.
She, however, noted that aspirants will have the opportunity to raise a valid objection against the system should there be when the system is due for piloting/test.
“SO AFTER TEST AND THE CANDIDATES FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO GUARANTEE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ELECTIONS, WE WILL SCRAP IT OFF. WE ARE A COMMISSION AND WE WORK WITH THEM”.
The calendar will see the final election result published on Friday, July 2020.
Meanwhile, a communique issued by the General Assembly of the student body denied it has approved any constitutional instrument which called for elections to be carried on online. The Speaker of the General Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Owusu Agyei Ampem said he had not presided over any meeting to approve any C.I or electoral commissioners. The general assembly further asked the student body to disregard any news which suggests such.
UG General Assembly Disagrees With EC Conducting SRC Election Online
Source: campus360news.com