Presidential candidates share mixed reviews on voting process

Sep 02, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – As presidential candidates cast their ballots in Monday’s General and Regional Elections at various polling stations across the country, their reaction to the electoral process differed.

While some expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the polls, others raised serious concerns, pointing to alleged breaches and irregularities.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Presidential Candidate, Aubrey Norton, speaking to the media after voting at Plaisance Secondary School, raised objections regarding the placement of voting booths. “The law says that the scrutineers must see the body of the person who is voting. Except for one of the buildings, all the rest were wrong, so I had them change it,” he stated. However, he described the overall voting process as “normal.”

Reflecting on the significance of the elections, Norton said, “It means more for the people of Guyana than for me. I would say that these elections are critical because it is an opportunity to ensure there is a relocation of the resources from oil to the people of Guyana, rather than the present approach of choosing family, friends, and favourites.”

Throughout the day, Norton visited several polling stations and made multiple complaints. He alleged incidents of voter intimidation and strongly objected to the presence of police officers wearing body cameras inside polling stations, which he claimed violated GECOM regulations.

“The police are violating the law. They are seeking to inform on how many people vote at the polling station and, from the reports we are getting, they are estimating who they think is PPP and who they think is not. That is outside the confines of the law. Secondly, they were going into polling stations with cameras, when cameras are prohibited. My understanding is that they are supposed to maintain order, and if an issue occurs, the police can call in and at that time they can use the cameras to record it, but outside of that, it is a violation of the law,” Norton asserted.

In contrast, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali expressed confidence in his party’s performance and the outcome. After casting his vote, he told reporters, “We did everything according to plan. We had a fantastic campaign based on track record, trust, and commitment, one that is based on unity and moving our country forward together. Now the final part of this journey to victory is for all our supporters to come out and seal this victory. I am very confident. The rallies speak for themselves.”

When questioned about potential security concerns if the election results are disputed, Ali said, “We have said very clearly that these elections have been peaceful, and we must always accept the will of the people. That is part of democracy. The security forces have made it clear that, should anyone step out of line in terms of the law, they are prepared to deal with that.”

Alliance For Change (AFC) Presidential Candidate Nigel Hughes reflected on the challenges and triumphs of the campaign and voting day. “The campaign was a rough one, but we have done better than expected,” he stated. Hughes pointed to an incident at the Den Amstel Civic Centre, where a power outage left the polling environment uncomfortable. “All the agents inside were hot; no fans, and ventilation was minimal,” he noted. Despite this, he praised the conduct of the poll: “The rest of the process went flawlessly. I have to commend the people at the polling station.”

Azruddin Mohamed, Presidential Candidate of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, also shared his experience. He noted a slow start to voting at his polling station, stating, “I arrived here at 05:59hrs and came out at 06:30hrs. There were only five persons ahead of me, yet it took 31 minutes. I think the process was a bit slow this morning.” Mohamed mentioned that complaints regarding minor hiccups were lodged with the relevant officials.

Presidential Candidate of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Amanza Walton-Desir, also raised several concerns after visiting polling stations and receiving reports from agents across the country. One significant issue involved a police officer allegedly standing directly at a counting table and communicating over a radio.

According to a statement issued, “Agents of the Forward Guyana Movement in Linden have raised strong objections to the presence and conduct of a police officer positioned directly at the counting table. The officer was observed standing in close proximity to the ballots and transmitting information over a radio as the process unfolded,” she stated. “This action has been deemed inappropriate, as the officer appeared to be functioning in a role outside of his remit, almost as though he were part of GECOM’s counting team. The party has formally noted its objection and calls on GECOM to immediately address the matter to safeguard the integrity, transparency, and independence of the counting process.”

Walton-Desir also highlighted an accessibility issue involving the party’s differently-abled candidate, Holly Ann Bristol. Bristol, who uses a wheelchair, arrived at her assigned polling station at 09:20hrs., only to discover it was located on the upper flat of a building with no accommodations for persons with disabilities. By 11:20hrs., she had still not been able to vote. “According to officials, GECOM suggested that two of their staff lift her up the steep staircase. Ms. Bristol declined this option, citing safety concerns.

Returning Officer indicated that the matter was referred to GECOM’s CEO, who confirmed that the commission could not provide any other accommodation apart from the unsafe option presented. Ms. Bristol has remained on-site, in what has now become a standoff with GECOM, as she awaits a workable solution that would allow her to cast her ballot with dignity and without compromising her safety,” Walton-Desir stated.

 

 

 

 

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• Aubrey Norton, Elections, mixed reviews, presidential candidates, voting

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