The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been alerted to an alleged attempt by a soldier to vote more than once during last Friday’s early voting for the general elections.
According to Region 4(B) Commander Kurleigh Simon, the force has been informed that the rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is alleged to have attempted to commit an election offence.
The rank, who has been publicly named by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), is currently under close arrest at Camp Stephenson.
The PPP/C issued a statement from party agent Manzoor Nadir, which said that at approximately 5.05 pm, the soldier entered the polling station at the Jaguar Lecture Hall (Alpha split D-H) and said he did not have an accepted form of picture ID.
“He was asked to swear an oath or sign the statement of affirmation as to being who he is, which he refused to do. He subsequently said he will return, but the Presiding Officer told him that it was already getting late and he should sign the statement, but he left,” the statement said.
Nadir said the PPP/C polling agent, Nafeeza Rodrigues, subsequently reported the unusual behaviour to a GDF warrant officer, who returned with the rank. The polling agent allegedly found what appeared to be ballot ink on the soldier’s right index finger.
Though the rank claimed that pen ink “fell on his finger,” the finger was stained on the nail and the bottom of the finger, Nadir said.
The Timehri Police Station was informed and ranks responded to investigate.
It is an offence to vote more than once in the same election.
According to Section 127 of the Representation of the Peoples Act, any person who votes on his own behalf more than once shall be guilty of an illegal practice. Section 128 further notes that any person guilty of an illegal practice shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine of $32,500 and to imprisonment for six months and shall be incapable during a period of five years from the date of his conviction, whether summarily or on indictment, of being registered as an elector.
There are five polling stations at Camp Stephenson, each of which was expected to poll approximately 400 electors.
Each polling station is provided with a “folio” of electors, which includes a picture along with other identifying details, such as name, address and date of birth.
Any person who does not present an Identification Card is identified based on the details within this folio and asked to sign a declaration of identity and swear an oath or make an affirmation.
It is not clear from the PPP/C release whether the ranks was identified within the Commission’s folio based on the name he provided or if he had been marked in the same folio as having voted at some point earlier in the day.
Attempts to solicit a response from the Guyana Elections Commission on this issue proved futile up to press time.
