Only the impression of the thumb is prescribed for marking the ballot papers for preferred candidates, as 12.4 million registered Ghanaian voters, queue across the country on Sunday to elect a new president, and members of a new parliament.

The Electoral Commission (EC) made that categorical statement yesterday, and pointed out that it would not accept any finger impression, apart from that of the thumb on the ballot paper on voting day, a position, which departs from the EC's earlier stand, that any mark on the paper was acceptable.

The Daily Graphic, which reported this yesterday, and attributed it to the Deputy Chairman of the EC, Mr. Sarfo Kantaka, further quoted the latter as explaining that the earlier position had changed, because the various parties contesting the elections thought otherwise.

There is no doubt that asking voters, the majority of who are illiterates, to vote by using their fingers or pens to inscribe any sign on the ballot paper, as directed by the EC, would have created problems for Sunday's elections.

Indeed, ever since this pronouncement was made, the political parties have been expressing their resentment with it, because of the misunderstanding it would create during the counting of the ballot papers after voting.

Besides the decision was not well advertised, therefore some of the political representatives at the polling stations, would be tempted to reject those papers marked with either pen or finger impressions, apart from the thumb.

Should this happen, one can imagine what would happen in this country. Surely, some of the political parties could take advantage of the situation, to reject the election on the grounds that it was not credible.

The Chronicle is, therefore, happy that the EC, itself, had seen the dangers ahead and decided to reverse the decision.

Since time immemorial, Ghanaians have been voting using their thumb, and any attempt to change or make some additions, could create problems for the country.

The EC should do everything possible to ensure that no political party or its followers have any cause to doubt the integrity of this Sunday's elections.

Meanwhile, we suggest that the voting public be well informed about the decision to stop the use of the pen or finger in scribing any impression on the ballot paper.

The Chronicle thinks most ballot papers would be rejected, if the people were not well educated that the method suggested by the EC was no more acceptable.