‘Strong election, weak system’ …Carter Center sets face against Guyana’s winner takes all model

May 15, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – The Carter Center’s final assessment of Guyana’s 2025 elections presents a study in contrasts- technical excellence undermined by systemic failure. While the Center lauded the vote’s execution as the most efficient in its monitoring history, this praise was sharply tempered by a warning that the electoral architecture remains fundamentally flawed.

At the heart of the critique is the “winner-takes-all” model, which the report argues fails to ensure genuine proportional or regional representation. By excluding significant portions of the population from meaningful governance, this system continues to serve as a primary driver of national instability. Beyond these structural issues, the report also flagged a specific procedural concern- a potential conflict of interest involving the Attorney General, who provided legal advice to the Commission while simultaneously running as a candidate. Ultimately, the Center concludes that no amount of technical efficiency can compensate for a system that lacks inclusive representation.

Beyond the representational failures, the report identifies the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as a primary source of institutional dysfunction. The polarized nature of the board, which relies on a partisan balance, often results in gridlock rather than neutral administration. Furthermore, the Center criticized the “regrettable lapse” in releasing 2022 census data, which has left the voters’ list in a state of statistical anomaly and undermined public trust. To move forward, the Center argues that Guyana must move past technical improvements and embrace radical systemic reforms to create a truly inclusive and transparent democratic process.

A System of “Distorted” Representation

The Center’s observers highlighted that the combination of national and geographical lists creates a “peculiarity” that confuses the basis of representation. Because parties must contest at least six geographical constituencies to qualify, smaller parties are forced to compete unequally.

“In practice, the complex process of seat allocation distorts proportionality and erodes the relevance of the geographical constituencies,” the report stated.

A key point of contention remains the “representative of the list” system. The Center noted that Guyana uses neither a “closed” nor “open” list, giving party leaders full discretion to select who fills seats. “Voters do not know which candidates from those long lists will be chosen by party officials to sit in the allocated seats,” the report warned. Furthermore, the report notes that candidates can appear on both national and geographical lists without residency requirements, meaning a representative may have no substantive connection to the region they represent.

Administrative Independence and Legal Gaps

A major recommendation is the total insulation of GECOM from government influence. The report flagged a potential conflict of interest during the 2025 cycle, noting that the Attorney General, who was also a candidate, provided legal advice to the Commission.

The Center recommends that “GECOM’s commissioners, secretariat, and legal department operate independently of the nation’s attorney general to ensure its full independence.”

The report also criticized the “dualist” nature of Guyana’s legal framework, where the National Assembly can limit the domestic application of international treaties by a two-thirds majority. Notably, Guyana remains a non-party to the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention.

Voter List Integrity and Demographic Shifts

While 2022 reforms helped GECOM use official data to remove deceased persons, a major loophole remains, “There are no current mechanisms to address deaths that might occur overseas among Guyana’s diaspora.” The report called for an independent “list-to-people” audit to restore public confidence.

Additionally, the Center noted that constituency boundaries have not been adjusted since 2001, despite 2022 census data showing significant shifts. “There is significant variance between constituencies, undermining the international democratic principle of equal suffrage,” the report found, urging an immediate review of geographic seat distribution.

Disenfranchisement and Ballot Secrecy

The mission raised alarms regarding the treatment of vulnerable voters. Regarding persons living with disabilities, the report noted with regret that “the secrecy of the vote for people with disabilities is not ensured in Guyana.” Polling stations lacked ramps or stencils for the visually impaired. Approximately 2,500 prisoners, including those on remand, were disenfranchised due to a lack of a procedural framework. In 9% of stations, secrecy was compromised by station layout. The Center also flagged issues with “carbon copy packets” for Statements of Poll (SoPs), where manual data transfers created human error risks.

Shifting Turnout and the Rise of WIN

The report noted a 5% decline in total valid votes (438,468) compared to 2020. District 4 saw an 11% drop, while District 10 saw an 8% drop. In these districts, particularly the city of Linden, voters shifted support to the WIN party at the expense of APNU.

While the PPP/C fell short of an outright majority in District 4, it received a plurality for the first time, suggesting a move toward “urban, multi-ethnic support.” In the hinterland, WIN made robust showings in Districts 7 and 8, despite the WIN candidate being hindered by a “no-fly policy” and some toshaos denying permission to campaign.

Post-Election Vacuum

The report revealed a three-month political vacuum following the polls. Guyana remained without an Opposition Leader until diplomats from the U.S., Canada, U.K., and E.U. joined local calls for the Speaker to convene a meeting. Following this international pressure, Azruddin Mohamed was finally elected Leader of the Opposition on Jan. 26, 2026.

A Legacy of Partnership

The Carter Center has worked in Guyana since the pivotal 1992 elections, supporting civil society, judicial reform, and Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) compliance.

The Center urged the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) to bridge legislative gaps regarding campaign finance and the misuse of state resources. “Strengthening Guyana’s democracy while the nation’s oil wealth booms could make Guyana a critical voice on the global stage,” the report concluded.

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• Carter Center, GECOM, Guyana’s 2025 elections, Strong election, weak system

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