As I wrote and promised three columns ago, today’s very brief piece is another contribution from me to GECOM’s and the political parties’ Voter Education process and efforts.
It also touches on just how much the ordinary voter should know in order to vote correctly and appreciate when, indeed, his or her Party has really lost and was not cheated by any fraud. (Cheddi Jagan liked to say “we were cheated, not defeated” and he used to be right!)
Objectives, understandings
Now that Nomination Day has passed and GECOM has notified – or is about to notify- the electoral contestants about the validity and acceptance of their Lists – or otherwise – both GECOM and the Parties can soon produce actual specimen ballot papers to assist in the education of electors. Especially first-time voters.
The basic objective, naturally, is to ensure that the May eleventh Guyanese voter knows exactly how to indicate on that ballot paper the choice he or she wishes to make. Yes the aim must be to teach the voter where and how to put that “X” for the Party of one’s choice.
Nomination Day however would have also indicated a myriad of procedures, even “technicalities”, that the more informed or sophisticated voter would be aware of. My contention about this latter is that, when it is thought necessary and convenient, the majority of voters should be educated so that when GECOM is tabulating and announcing the final results, no one must feel dissatisfied. Because then they really understand the process!
For example, those voters interested, should have known the following technical-sounding points: “Contesting parties are permitted to submit three separate lists on Nomination Day. These Lists of Candidates are in respect of: Geographical Constituencies Lists; National Top-up Lists; and Regional Democratic Council Lists.
“In accordance with the electoral system of Proportional Representation, in order to qualify for a seat in the National Assembly, contesting parties must contest a minimum of six of the Geographical Constituencies- totalling at least 13 seats for eligibility to contest and submit geographical Constituencies Lists and National Top-up Lists. This arrangement will provide for that qualified contesting party to submit on Nomination Day, two separate Lists of Candidates.
“Any contesting political party can contest the election of members of any of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils. For this purpose, a List of Candidates must be submitted on Nomination Day.”
Now it is for the well-organised contesting groups to explain all the fore-going to their supporters. Indeed, the entire electorate should be familiar with such issues. But again I contend that GECOM’s literature, so far, is not geared for the working-class elector. (GECOM never bothered with me, Allan, but I did write offering to convert some of the voter education into Creolese for Radio and TV. Poor me…)
Other issues: Teach! Teach!
I submit that the Parties, especially, must re-inforce GECOM’s efforts with respect to the following: when and how thousands of members of the Disciplined Forces will vote and when those votes will be counted. Who will safe-guard those early votes before the Polling Day count?
What about proxy voting? Who can vote for whom? Why and how? What is the role of Party Agents and scrutineers? And importantly, counting at the place of poll! The truth is that all contesting parties do know the results on polling night, long before GECOM’s final official results!
The trouble or challenge is always this however: Party reps actually know the numbers, one way or the other; they swiftly transmit these to their headquarters. Depending on the position, pleasure or pain is inflicted whilst GECOM has to be impeccably accurate with its tabulations even after it gets the polling places’ numbers. This is when mischief can be manufactured by losers who actually know how final figures are arrived at for the various categories of seats. How can this be minimized? Or avoided? Next time.
Dayclean’s coalition sunshine
Two small papers I looked forward to under the harsher days of Burnhamism were the Catholic Standard and the WPA’s Dayclean. Even though I was a PNC fellow.
The two publications were fearless amid their suffering and suppression. I can’t go into my perspectives when the once-non-electoral WPA embraced the PNC/APNU. A now “common enemy”, I suppose?
Dayclean broke and re-appeared (to me) at the APNU-AFC Nomination Day Rally. So in keeping with my fore-going brand of voter-education, I quote from the current Dayclean: “It will be won or lost depending on our performance on Election Day. This is neither a trivial or trite observation. To the
contrary it directly addresses our capacity to master the logistics of Election Day. Two lines of action
therefore are needed. First, from choosing capable election personnel, monitoring polling stations, helping voters with the list, transporting voters to and from polling stations in difficult and other neighbourhoods, as needed, offering legal help and other protection to providing food and means of communication to our Election Day personnel, the logistical challenges we must prepare for are truly formidable on a countrywide basis.”
Ponder…
*1) No matter how simplistic I appear, I suggest again: Ask the Americans, Brazilians, Trinidadians and Venezuelans to loan one or two helicopters each for the period May 9th to May 13th. With aircraft from the GDF, ASL and Roraima, results can physically arrive at GECOM speedily!
*2) Is Dayclean accurate? Ronald Gajraj will replace Lis Harper? Robert Persaud will migrate? Harper wants Jagdeo to apologise to Varshnie?
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty @yahoo.com)
