Disappointed GECOM did not address most recent allegation of electoral fraud

Aug 13, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

I welcome the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) interaction with the public regarding preparations for the upcoming General and Regional Elections in which it “addressed concerns about electoral integrity by outlining the safeguards in place to prevent multiple voting and other forms of fraud.”

This newspaper reported that GECOM was responding to concerns raised by the AFC which had urged the removal of outdated names from the National Register of Registrants Database and the introduction of biometric and electronic voting to enhance electoral integrity. GECOM’s pro forma response repeated the usual litany of safeguards of our electoral system which included the conduct of an intensive voter education programme and training of Election Day staff; accurate identification of the voter and the use of indelible ink; the presence of political party agents at each polling station and during the counting of ballots at the place of poll; and the presence of security personnel from the GPF and local and international observers throughout the voting and counting processes. There was also a proposal to install cameras in polling stations.

I am dissatisfied by both the level of concern expressed and the quality of the solutions advanced because of the fact that all available evidence suggests that the greater likelihood, and consequence, of electoral fraud is not on Election Day, at the place of poll or involving the voter, polling day staff or scrutineering but in activities after the conclusion of the poll. This obvious fact is recognized by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) established after the 2020 elections to enquire into attempts “to undermine and frustrate the legally prescribed process for the counting, ascertaining and tabulation of votes … and on attempts to prevent a true declaration of the results” of that election. None of the measures outlined above are designed to prevent a true declaration of the results which is the fundamental objective of electoral fraud, and neither can the installation of cameras at polling stations for one day which would, very likely, have to be re-purchased every five years.

It is incredibly disappointing (maybe it was not asked ) that GECOM did not address the most recent instance of alleged fraud or reveal any safeguards to prevent its recurrence given that the COI found that “the integrity of and trust in the electoral system of Guyana was undermined and temporarily overthrown by the shenanigans of election officials at the highest levels of the system” and that both the GECOM Chair and head of the Secretariat were among the 26 witnesses that provided testimony before the COI and assisted in forming the opinion that there were “shockingly brazen attempts” by the former Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) and Returning Officer (RO) of Region 4 “to derail and corrupt the statutorily prescribed procedure for the counting, ascertaining and tabulation of the results of that election … for the purpose of stealing that election.”

I would expect that all stakeholders in our elections would be interested to learn, at a minimum and as soon as possible, whether the proposal by CEO Vishnu Persaud to install cameras in polling stations extend to the tabulation centre(s) and what is the legally prescribed procedure for the contentious counting, ascertaining and tabulation of results. Also, whether the use of a spreadsheet, computer/laptop, USB or other electronic device is illegal, mandated or optional and is GECOM aware of the existence, or use, of false Statements of Poll (SOP) in the last election and what is the process for the authentication/verification of SOPs used in the tabulation of results and does it involve observers, agents and commissioners. If these concerns are no addressed, and the “shenanigans” not clearly identified, punished and defeated, then I fear that the integrity of, and trust in, our electoral system would be irreparably damaged and clearly GECOM is not yet prepared for elections soon.

Sincerely,

Oscar Dolphin

allegation, electoral, fraud, Oscar Dolphin, prevent

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Disappointed GECOM did not address most recent allegation of electoral fraud

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