Nat’l Youth Council explores E-voting to allow effective participation

Dec 03, 2018 News

Given its commitment to ensuring that Guyanese youth are allowed equal participation in issues of national importance, the Guyana National Youth Council at its first internal elections is exploring the option of e-voting.

GNYC Interim Chairman, Derwayne Wills

Interim Chairman of the Committee, Derwayne Wills noted that the GNYC opted to host its first executive election on November 24, 2018, which would have seen a transition from the current governance structure of a Steering Committee to one of a full executive committee.
However, based on the participation in the November 24 election, he said that GNYC will be extending the voting process and utilizing a mixed methods voting system, which would allow a counting of the ballots cast on November 24, 2018 and a further engagement of those other GNYC delegates who have not yet been able to cast their vote.
“As of November 24, 2018, the overall membership of GNYC is 346 with 320 being eligible to vote and contest based on the deadlines for registration during the registration cycle (August 19, 2018 to October 31, 2018).
It is evident from this election preliminary that the voting process in itself, by virtue of the magnitude of GNYC, must take on a more dynamic, extended interface or rather must happen as an extended voting process instead of a one-off activity with a narrow voting window,” Wills explained.
According to the interim chairman, the GNYC will consult with its partners in the Caribbean and the Commonwealth on how to effectively conduct an electronic vote (E-Vote) in a manner that is transparent.
He said that the GNYC has already been informed that such a platform is being tested by the Commonwealth Secretariat.
“Even with the E-Voting system, GNYC delegates not in attendance on November 24 will have the option to view the pitches made by the candidates as well as the questions and answers segment as all of this was recorded and will become available soon.”
GNYC’s election was supervised by Returning Officer, Ms. Kimberly Gilbert. Ms. Gilbert is a director with the Caribbean Regional Youth Council and also a member of the Trinidad Youth Council. The election observers comprised of representatives of the University of Guyana Student Society, University of Guyana Law Society, and Youth Advocacy Movement of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association.
A number of positions have gone uncontested based on the absence of the nominee on the day of the election preliminary, withdrawal of candidacy, the nominee’s inability to present themselves to the General Assembly on the day of the preliminary election, or member’s inability to register within the specified time so as to form part of the list of electors and ultimately have the power to vote as well as contest for any position.
The uncontested positions within GNYC include the Secretary, Chairperson for Resource Mobilization, Chairperson for Sports Development, and Chairperson for Monitoring and Evaluation. Those uncontested positions are slated to be opened for nominations after consultation between GNYC’s Steering Committee and the Returning Officer.
So far, Wills said that the positions that have been successfully contested within the Executive Committee are President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Chairperson for Policy and Advocacy, and Chairperson for Inclusion and Regional Participation.
“Voting for these positions will remain opened as our members will continue to be engaged,” he said.