GECOM yet to decide if prisoners will be allowed to vote

Jun 11, 2025 News

…still to select returning officers

GECOM yet to decide if prisoners will be allowed to vote

Guyana Elections Commission

Kaieteur News – The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is still to determine whether or not incarcerated individuals should be allowed to vote.

Government commissioner, Sase Gunraj told Kaieteur News Tuesday that while the commission recognises there is no legislative provision to allow such, the chairman has undertaken to raise the issue with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall SC, who is currently functioning as GECOM’s legal advisor.

The suggestion for prisoners to participate in the elections was made by opposition commissioner, Vincent Alexnader last Thursday. Alexander had recalled that the chair had expressed legal concerns regarding contact with incarcerated individuals.

“The chairman sought to suggest that there is some law that forbids the public or anyone from speaking with prisoners, and therefore, we don’t have the facilitation to allow them to vote,” Alexander explained. “We argue that there is no need to speak with prisoners, that the list of the incarcerated can be compiled, the same way in which the list of disciplined services is compiled, and they can vote on that day without us touching the prisoners.”

Meanwhile, Gunraj said GECOM is also preparing to appoint returning officers (ROs) and supernumerary returning officers (SROs) ahead of the general and regional elections scheduled for September 1.

These appointments were discussed during a meeting held at GECOM’s headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown on Tuesday.

Gunraj said the discussions also covered logistics for the placement of the officers.

Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward confirmed that the public will be informed once the appointments are finalised. “When the commission makes these appointments, it will be formally communicated,” Ward stated.

The National Assembly recently passed the Representation of the People (Amendment) (ROPA) Bill 2025, which makes provision for deputy supernumerary returning officers to be appointed in electoral sub-districts in Regions 3, 4, and 6. The bill amends Sections 2(1) and 33C (1) of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) and the National Registration Act. According to the legal supplement published on May 16, Section 2(1) was amended to redefine the term “supernumerary returning officer” as “a deputy supernumerary returning officer”. Section 33C (1) was revised by replacing the word “shall” with “may”, introducing discretion regarding the revision of the official list of electors and the roll for non-resident electors under certain circumstances.

Further, a proposal by opposition-nominated commissioners to highlight the names of electors on the voters list was rejected by the commission, Gunraj reported.

Additionally, GECOM has agreed to revise nomination day forms. The new version will require nominators to declare that they knowingly signed the documents.

With less than three months remaining before the elections, GECOM has confirmed it is on track with preparations. Ward stated, “The commission is operating in accordance with its approved elections work plan.”

GECOM, Guyana Elections, Mohabir Anil Nandlall SC, Sase Gunraj

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