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No ban on cellphones in polling booth
…but GECOM warns against disclosing who you voted for
Kaieteur News – The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has taken a decision not to have voters lodge their phones as a measure to ensure they are not used to photograph their ballots.
Opposition appointed commissioner Vincent Alexander revealed that GECOM made the decision by way of a majority vote on Tuesday. He said that the government-appointed commissioners were supported by chairperson retired Justice Claudette Singh on the issue.
This is despite the opposition commissioners objecting to voters being allowed with their phones in the booths. The commissioner said he believes that not allowing the phones into the polling stations is a way of securing the secrecy of the ballots.
Alexander explained that “There is a rumor that people are being paid to vote for specific parties so what happens when they enter the polling booths, they take a picture to show to the party as proof of how they voted…There was also an instance a few years back of persons voting and taking a picture of the ballot and posting it as soon as they left the polling station. These are the things we are trying avoid.”
GECOM Headquarters in Kingston
“However, when this point was raised, the commissioners opposed it and made a point of not allowing the phones into the polling stations being troublesome since the staff would have to be trained to secure people’s phones, and it would mean extra work for them and so on,” he said noting that the commission has however agreed that the taking of pictures inside the voting booth is prohibited.
On Monday, GECOM issued a reminder to all voters, particularly first-time voters, about key election laws, including the illegality of vote-buying and obstructing the secrecy of a person’s vote.
GECOM emphasised that all stakeholders and voters have a legal and civic duty to ensure the elections are conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner.
“In this regard, the commission takes the opportunity to strongly emphasise the need for voters and other concerned stakeholders to be informed of the following provisions as enacted in the Representation of the People Act Cap: 1: 03:” the commission stated.
The commission reminded that is a criminal offense for any person to directly or indirectly offer money, gifts, or loans to a voter in exchange for their vote. Secondly, it is also illegal for any person, including the voter himself, to communicate at any time to any person, any information about the political party for which any voter has voted on his behalf, or as a proxy on behalf of another voter.
Additionally, GECOM noted that it is a violation of the law for anyone to pressure or influence a voter to show their marked ballot, thereby revealing the party they voted for, either on their own behalf or as a proxy.
The commission warned that anyone found guilty of committing these offenses may face a fine and up to six months’ imprisonment upon summary conviction. Furthermore, convicted individuals may also be disqualified from participating in future elections.
In a release Tuesday, the APNU coalition called on GECOM to ensure the public is informed that photographs and the use of cameras are prohibited in the polling place.
“We hereby also advise GECOM and the Guyana Police Force to set up hot lines where persons can anonymously report these and other incidents of electoral fraud. The other contesting political parties, which are interested in free and credible elections, should have no difficulty in publicly endorsing these and other measures to maintain the secrecy of the ballot. They should raise their voices now. Not only is the country’s democracy at stake, but its very soul.”
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This issue of people have to be trained to secure voters cell phone is total rubbish I voted in Antigua and Barbuda there was a separate table with a basket where you lodge your cell phone, that’s it because a voter only spends about 5 minutes on average in the polling booth so Government commissioners go tell that BS to someone else.