The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is reminding employers that they are statutorily obligated to grant time-off to their employees to vote at the upcoming General and Regional Elections on the 1st September, 2025.

In a statement, GECOM indicated that while persons may be required to work or will be stationed away from their respective Polling district on Elections Day, their employers are mandated under the Law to grant them time off to vote.

GECOM explained that Section 81 (1) of the Representation of the People Act makes it mandatory for every employer to permit every elector in his/her employ, other than those voting via proxy, to be absent from work on Election day for a reasonable time for the purpose of voting at the election.

It warned that there should be no deduction in pay for the time not at work or any penalty.

Further, GECOM said it’s the Constitutional right of employees to vote at the election.

“As such, it is also their responsibility to engage their respective employers ahead of time to discuss the requisite time-off and to obtain the necessary approvals. Failure on the part of any employer to grant such request constitutes an election offence,” the Elections Secretariat said,

Under the Representation of the People Act, an employer, who directly or indirectly, refuses or who by intimidation, undue influence or in any other way interferes or prevents an elector from voting can be fined $65,000 and imprisonment for six (6) months.

GECOM is therefore urging all persons to take note and put the necessary systems in place to ensure that they are able to vote on election day.

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