Project Manager of the Coalition of Domestic Observers (CODEO), Rhoda Osei-Afful has advised voters who are unable to afford nose masks to use alternatives means of covering their faces on Elections Day in order to avoid being turned away from polling centers by electoral officials.
According to Rhoda Osei-Afful, the law does not restrict the wearing of a face covering to only nose mask hence, qualified voters who will be turning up to vote on Monday but do not have nose masks should use alternatives means of covering their faces.
She urged all voters to abide by the law requiring the wearing of a face cover so as to avoid exposing themselves and others to the risk of contracting Covid-19.
“The law is not limiting you to a nose mask but it can be any face covering. So what are the alternatives to cover your nose and your mouth that as you go to the polling stations, you are not putting your own life and others in danger. I will advise that every voter should look at what they can afford. If they can’t afford a mask but can get a handkerchief, a piece of cloth headgear, something that they can use to just cover their faces. I think it is possible for many of us to get that provision and then make sure that we abide by the law,” she said.
Rhoda Osei-Afful’s advise follows the Electoral Commission’s (EC) resolve to strictly enforce the covid-19 safety protocols including the wearing of nose masks. Some voters during the Special Voting were turned away from the polling centers for not wearing nose masks.
The EC has since reiterating that it will strictly enforce the protocols including the wearing of nose mask on the day of the General Elections.
Though some have questioned the legal basis of the directive to Electoral officials not permit voters without masks to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right, the EC insists its directive is grounded in law since the wearing of facemasks is in public interest.
The commission has also disagreed with suggestions that it should make available masks for individuals who are cannot own masks so that they are not disenfranchised.
The EC argued that providing masks for voters at the polling centers will create a negative impression that the centers are breeding grounds of the disease.
Speaking on JoyNews on the matter, the project manager of CODEO suggested the use of handkerchiefs, clothes and headgears as alternative way of protecting oneself and ensuring that they are not disenfranchise if they are in no position to own a nose mask.
Health experts have, however, been advising against the use of such alternatives in place of nose masks explaining that handkerchiefs, plain cloths and others do not offer any protection.
