The Alliance For Change (AFC) is demanding a “comprehensive” update from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on measures being implemented to improve the country’s electoral system. 

The 2020 elections spanned a period of five months from polling day to the final results being released, with the major parties claiming electoral fraud.

At a recent press conference, AFC Executive, Beverly Alert, said the discrepancies in the Voters’ List contributed in no small part to the resulting stand-off.

 “There is no longer any public confidence in the integrity of the electoral list and unless every effort is made to find a solution, there will be continuing distrust in any electoral outcome. Verified instances of votes cast in the names of deceased persons, immigration records indicating non-resident voters, and other irregularities underscore the urgent need for a more robust and transparent system,” Alert told reporters. 

She said the Claudette Singh led Elections Commission has had enough time to review and audit its conduct of the 2020 elections.

With elections set to take place in 2025, Alert said it is imperative that the Commission informs the nation on steps being taken to rectify the identified flaws, adding that many of the issues highlighted by the 2020 elections cannot be addressed through claims, objections, or continuous registration exercises alone.

“As of March, this year, the voters’ list contains over 700,000 names, a figure that is incongruous with the population size. While we acknowledge the court’s ruling on the removal of names from the list, the Chairperson must outline how the Commission plans to handle the bloated list and its implications for the next elections. It is crucial for the Chairperson to provide recommendations on achieving a more accurate and acceptable list of electors. Can the Chairperson assure the nation that the current system will inspire public confidence in the 2025 elections?” the AFC Executive said.

AFC, like its coalition partner – APNU, has been pushing for the adoption of biometrics and electronic voting to enhance electoral integrity, as part of a menu of measures proposed.

Alert said the Chairman’s position on the use of biometrics and other technologies must be clearly articulated ahead of the elections. She said it is important for the electorate to be assured that measures are in place to ensure a fair, transparent, and credible electoral process in 2025.

“Updating the voters’ list is crucial for ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. Key considerations and steps based on global best practices include biometric registration, continuous voter education, regular audits and clean-up, and a robust legal framework. Biometric registration, through nationwide biometric data collection and integration into the electoral database, reduces the risk of duplicate registrations and impersonation. Continuous voter education, via media campaigns and community outreach programs, educates the public on the importance of updating their information and understanding the electoral process. Regular audits and clean-up involve cross-checking the voters’ list with national databases, such as birth and death registries and immigration records, on a biannual or annual basis to ensure accuracy,” Alert explained. 

The AFC believes there should also be a review and amending of the electoral laws to address legal barriers to maintaining an accurate voters’ list.

Related posts:

Opposition wants to meet EU team here to assist with electoral reform Norton steps up calls for new GECOM Chair and new Electoral list before LGE APNU+AFC calls on GECOM to prepare for H2H Registration PM Nagamootoo warns Guyanese to be wary of those spreading false information about electoral process