As the 2024 General Elections approach, political parties are ramping up their campaigns in a bid to secure victory.
A key demographic gaining attention during this period is the “first-time voters.”
According to the Electoral Commission’s (EC) 2024 Voters Register, over 700,000 individuals are expected to cast their votes for the first time.
This group has become a strategic focus for political parties eager to win their support.
Citi News engaged with some of these first-time voters to understand their expectations and the factors shaping their choices for the upcoming elections. Many first-time voters expressed concerns about insufficient education on the voting process, with some admitting uncertainty about what to do when they reach the polling stations.
They expressed mixed feelings about their role in the elections. Gabriel Tecco Mensah, a young voter, voiced scepticism about the promises made by politicians.
“When you listen to their policies, they don’t normally do them when they come to power, and this is something I have realised. So, I am just going in for someone who I feel is capable of being a man of his word this time around.”
“As we are nearing the election, that is when you see the politicians doing a lot of things for a vote, sharing of rice and others. I am not looking at that,” he stated.
Another voter, Ezekiel Oman, said his decision would focus on policies benefiting the youth and the larger population.
“I am looking at policies that will not just benefit me but Ghanaians. Because, as a youth, we are looking for opportunities that will favour us. So, I am voting for someone who has policies that will benefit the youth.
“On campus here, politicians come around to share items. If you give me, I will take it, but that will not influence my voting decision,” he stated.
However, a recurring concern among first-time voters is the lack of adequate voter education. Jislord Naa Abloh highlighted the confusion some new voters face about the electoral process.
“I have not seen any notice educating first-time voters on what to do on the voting day. As much as people may think that first-time voters have a lot of information, I tell you that if you conduct a survey, you will realise that a lot of people don’t want to vote because they don’t have much information on how to vote.
Vera Abena Addo, the Project Coordinator for the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), highlighted the inadequate voter education provided to first-time voters ahead of this year’s elections.
“We have to recognise that the population is quite young and even our voters register shows that we have a very young population voting. So, it is important that voter education, civil education is targeted at these young voters and especially for first-time voters,” she stated.
She also warned about the potential for vote-buying practices, particularly targeting new voters.
Vera Addo urged political parties to prioritise fairness by presenting their policies to the electorate rather than resorting to unethical strategies like vote-buying.
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