The 9th Annual Forum of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) convened in March 2025 in Accra, Ghana, organized by the African Union Commission. The forum addressed the pressing issue of invalid and rejected ballots in African elections, emphasizing collaborative efforts to tackle the problem. Experts and stakeholders identified strategies and developed recommendations to improve electoral integrity, culminating in key outcomes including the establishment of a committee for cross-national cooperation.
The Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (DPAPS) of the African Union Commission (AUC) organized the 9th Annual Continental Forum of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from March 12 to 13, 2025, in Accra, Ghana, in collaboration with the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA) and support from the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES). The forum’s theme, “All Votes Count: Addressing the Problem of Invalid or Rejected Ballots in Africa,” aimed to tackle the issue of increasing invalid and rejected ballots which exceed the global average in many African elections.
Justice Sophia Akuffo, the Immediate Past Chief Justice of Ghana, inaugurated the forum. Remarks were delivered by prominent figures including Mrs. Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, and Mr. Fabio Bargiacchi, Founder and Executive Director of ECES. They acknowledged the alarming statistics reflecting the scale of invalid votes in recent elections, such as Liberia (5.89% invalid votes in 2023), Kenya (0.79% in 2022), South Africa (1.31% in 2024), and Ghana (2.08% rejected ballots in 2024).
Participants at the forum included representatives from AUC, EMBs from AU Member States, regional communities, international organizations, civil society, and academia, focusing discussions on critical points. These included understanding the causes of invalid ballots, the relationship between electoral systems and ballot design, authority in determining invalid ballots, strategies for reducing invalid votes, and creating a roadmap for implementing forum outcomes.
Key results from the forum included recommendations for EMBs, discussions on strategies and timelines for implementation, and the establishment of a committee to explore best practices across nations. Additionally, EMBs were urged to create national action plans for sustained progress.
The AAEA General Assembly is planned for March 14, 2025, following the forum, supported by the Pro Electoral Integrity project from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, via ECES.
The 9th Annual Forum of Election Management Bodies in Africa provided a crucial platform for addressing the significant challenge of invalid and rejected ballots in electoral processes across the continent. With input from various stakeholders, the forum culminated in valuable recommendations aimed at improving electoral integrity, fostering collaboration, and establishing actionable plans to mitigate the issue of invalid votes in future elections. This event underscores the African Union’s commitment to promoting good governance and participatory democracy.
Original Source: www.peaceau.org
