Political watchers on Joy FM’s maiden pre-election programme - Election Forum - are calling on citizens to be more responsible and vigilant in dealing with the issue of minor voting. Dr Emmanuel Akwete the Executive Director of IDEG, Dr Kwasi Jonah Executive Director of the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) as well as Dr Emmanuel Bombande of WANEP are convinced the integrity of the 2012 could be called into question if the issue of minor voting is not dealt with. The Electoral Commission has identified several cases of minor registration. The copies of the biometric voters register, containing the pictures of these minors, has been released to the various political parties. Officials of the Commission say once these minors have been registered and their IDs issued, it will be difficult to prevent them from voting when they turn up on December 7. This, political watchers have described as worrying. Dr Kwasi Jonah accused political parties of perpetrating the issue of minor registration and voting in order to maximise their electoral fortunes. He said the advent of biometric registration will curb the problem of multiple voting, and therefore political parties have resorted to minor voting. Whilst agreeing to the views shared by Dr Jonah, the Executive Director of WANEP, Dr Emmanuel Bombande said citizens must become active participants rather than passive observers of an issue which has the potential of derailing the country’s electoral fortune. He said the citizens must not remain quiet when they see 12 year olds joining the queue to vote on Election Day. Dr Jonah said whilst the legal option to prevent these minors from voting has become practically impossible, it is about time political and moral persuasion are used to prevent these minors from voting. He said parents of these minors must be thoroughly spoken to and be told of the likely repercussion on their children if they are allowed to vote. The panel also discussed issues about flash points and the security implications it could have on the 2012 General Elections. The Election Forum was hosted by Emmanuel Akwete of IDEG.