Guyana Elections Commission corner…Weekly Update on Preparation for the General and Regional Elections – 2011

Disciplined Services to vote on Monday, November 21, 2011 – List of Electors posted on GECOM Website

A total of 6,187 Members of the Disciplined Services are listed to vote at 70 places of balloting across Guyana on Monday, November 21, 2011. This total comprises 1,823 Members of the Guyana Defence Force, 4,023 members of the Guyana Police Force, and 341 Members of the Guyana Prison Service, will take place on Monday, November 21, 2011.

Members of the Disciplined Forces who cast their ballots on Monday, November 21, 2011, will not be permitted to vote again on Election Day, Monday, November 28, 2011 as their names and other particulars would have been distributed to the Presiding Officers at the respective Polling Stations indicating that they have already voted. The Disciplined Services List of Electors are accessible on the GECOM Website www.gecom.org.gy

The hours of voting by members of the Disciplined Services are 07:00 hours to 19:00 hours (7:00 am to 7:00 pm).

Dispatch of Ballot Papers for Voting by Non-Resident Electors

GECOM has dispatched the 53 Ballot Papers for voting by Non-Resident Electors who are attached to Guyana Overseas Diplomatic Missions.  This was done on Monday, November 14, 2011 in keeping with the statutory requirement.

Applications for Proxies

GECOM treated with applications for Proxies at the level of the Electoral Districts from Monday, November 14 to Friday, November 18, 2011 in keeping with the relevant statutory requirement.  The applications for proxies are currently being addressed at the level of the Returning Officers in the 10 Electoral Districts in Guyana.  This activity involves visits being made to the addresses of the applicants to determine the authenticity and accuracy of the applications.

Ballot Papers Received

GECOM is in receipt of all of the Ballot Papers required for voting at the 2011 General and Regional Elections.  These are stored in a highly fortified and protected location under tight security.

Accreditation of Local Observers

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) is in the process of being accredited as a Local Observer Group for the 2011 General and Regional Elections.   The Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB), the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the Canadian High Commis-sion, the British High Commission, the American Embassy, and the European Union Delegation have already been accredited as Local Observer Groups for the Elections.  All of these Organisations have agreed to abide by the principles enshrined in the Terms of Reference for Local Observers, failing which the respective accreditation could be rescinded.

Appointment of Polling Day Staff/ Induction Sessions being Conducted Countrywide

Letters of appointment to work on Polling are currently being delivered by hand to persons who have been selected to work on Election Day, Monday, November 28, 2011.  Accordingly, the GECOM Secretariat Is currently involved with the conduct of induction exercises sharpen them about their respective duties concerning the electoral process.

Vishnu Persaud
Public Relations Officer
20.11.2011.