The 9th Annual Continental Forum of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) has commenced in Accra, bringing together election officials, policymakers, and international partners to address the challenge of invalid and rejected ballots in Africa. The two-day forum, organised by the African Union’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (DPAPS) in collaboration with the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA) and supported by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), is being held under the theme “All Votes Count: Addressing the Problem of Invalid or Rejected Ballots in Africa. “The forum seeks to tackle the persistently high rate of rejected ballots across the continent, which remains above the global average. It serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among African electoral bodies, with the ultimate goal of enhancing electoral credibility and democratic governance. Delivering the keynote address, Immediate Past Chief Justice of Ghana and Member of the Council of State, Justice Sophia Akuffo, underscored the significance of strong legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms in reducing rejected ballots. She stressed that democracy thrives when every valid vote counts and called for intensified voter education and electoral reforms to ensure ballots are properly cast and counted.
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana and President of the AAEA Executive Committee, Jean Mensa, in her opening remarks, emphasised the need for greater collaboration among African electoral bodies. She noted that rejected ballots undermine democracy and stressed the importance of comprehensive stakeholder engagement to address the challenge.
Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the African Union, Patience Chiradza, reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to strengthening democratic governance. She warned that a high incidence of rejected ballots can erode public trust in electoral processes and urged electoral commissions to implement clear guidelines to minimise voter errors.
Founder and Executive Director of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), Fabio Bargiacchi, highlighted the role of international partnerships in improving Africa’s electoral systems. He stated that learning from global best practices could help electoral management bodies design more voter-friendly ballot systems, ultimately reducing ballot rejection rates.
The forum continues with expert panel discussions on the causes of invalid ballots and strategies to enhance electoral systems across Africa.
