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A simple solution to address Guyana’s Voter List issues

Feb 27, 2025 Sports

Dear Editor

For decades, Guyana has grappled with election disputes, often revolving around the accuracy and

integrity of the voters’ list. Allegations of bloated registries, duplicate entries, and outdated records have fueled political tensions and eroded public trust in our electoral process. However, what if a

straightforward, practical solution was already within our reach?

The government’s $100,000 cash grant initiative requires every eligible Guyanese at home and abroad to register using verified identification (passport or national ID) and provide proof of citizenship. This

process has already gathered the key elements necessary for an accurate and transparent voter

database:

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Residential Address
  • Proof of Citizenship

Some may question the feasibility and fairness of this proposal, particularly the $100,000 cash grant

initiative. However, it’s important to note that this initiative has already demonstrated effectiveness in

reaching and registering a large portion of the population. If this data collection is good enough to

distribute national wealth, why isn’t it good enough to modernize our voter registration system?

A Fairer Electoral Process for All

By converting the cash grant registration database into the official voters’ list, Guyana could:

  1. Eliminate Fraud & Duplicate Entries – Since registration requires proof of citizenship, the risk of

ghost voters, non-citizen registrations, or duplication would be significantly reduced.

  1. Ensure Up-to-Date Address Information – This would streamline polling station assignments and

reduce disputes over voter migration.

  1. Simplify Voter Registration – Every eligible Guyanese adult who applied for the grant would

already be registered to vote, minimizing bureaucratic hurdles.

  1. Enhance Public Confidence in Elections – A voter list derived from a recent, verified national

registration process would increase transparency and reduce post-election conflicts.

Addressing the Key Concerns

Of course, any reform to voter registration must be carefully implemented. Some may argue that not all

citizens applied for the grant, meaning they’d be left out of the voter registry. This can be addressed by

allowing a supplementary registration period, where those who missed the grant application can still

register with similar verification requirements.

Another challenge is the status of overseas-based Guyanese. The grant requires them to be physically

present in Guyana to collect funds, but should they also be automatically added to the voters’ list? If so,

this could reignite debates about diaspora voting rights. This policy decision requires national discussion

but doesn’t undermine the core idea: using a recent, verified database to improve electoral

transparency.

The Time to Act is Now

With Guyana’s economic transformation underway, we should also modernize the systems that shape

our democracy. Instead of relying on outdated voter registration processes that invite controversy, why

not use the existing government-verified data to create a clean, transparent, and trusted voter registry?

This is not a political proposal—it’s a common-sense solution to a decades-old problem. The question is:

Do we have the political will to fix it? With the potential to eliminate fraud, ensure up-to-date

information, simplify the registration process, and enhance public confidence in our elections, the

benefits of this solution are clear.  The time to act is now.

Sincerely

Dr. Lawrence Benjamin

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