THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)’s Claims and Objections period starts today at over 100 advertised locations.“We have satisfied all the legal and statutory requirements, and we are ready to go,” says Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Mr Keith Lowenfield.

As he explained, the Claims and Objections period is the “Step One” in the Commission’s workplan for the conduct of the upcoming May 11 General and Regional Elections.

MOBILE UNITS
He added that in addition to the fixed GECOM locations, there will also be several mobile units that will be in operation, particularly to facilitate access to eligible voters in the hinterland areas.
“We are satisfied that we are ready to go at these locations, and with our mobile units,” Lowenfield told the Guyana Chronicle, adding that persons registered with GECOM, and those who will be 18 years old by April 30 this year qualify as voters at the upcoming polls.
SEVENTH CYCLE
The Claims and Objections period is the next step after a continuous cycle of registration, the last one being the Seventh Cycle of Continuous Registration.
Some 6,003 persons took advantage of the Seventh Cycle of Registration, which ended on December 31, 2014. There were also 1,163 changes and corrections to existing registration information that was done during the Seventh Cycle of Continuous Registration, as well as 1,248 transfers.
The Seventh Cycle of Continuous Registration commenced on November 30, 2014, and allowed persons the opportunity to register for the first time; conduct transfers; and make changes to their registration details.
Prior to the start of the Claims and Objections period, the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) was published to allow for review by eligible voters.
The PLE’s publication, as well as several other operational undertakings, had to be completed before a date for the Claims and Objections period was named.
The Claims and Objections period is necessary to finalise the Official List of Electors (OLE), which will facilitate voting on Elections Day.

DATE SET
President Donald Ramotar last month ended the wait of the Guyanese people with the much-anticipated announcement on the way forward to bring an end to the current political impasse: A move to early general and regional elections on May 11.
The move by the President to set a date will have a bearing on several processes. Once a date is set, it will translate into the dissolution of Parliament, which currently still stands suspended under the November prorogation proclamation; political parties will then kick into campaign mode.
Also, with the President’s announcement of a date, GECOM now has its timelines with which to work.
Meanwhile, the GECOM PRO, in a prior statement, disclosed that logistical and administrative preparations have long begun in “earnest” for the professional and transparent management of the impending general and regional elections.
“The Commission now awaits the announcement by His Excellency, The President, of the date for General and Regional Elections, after meaningful collaboration with GECOM,” Richard François had stated.
The last General and Regional Elections were held in November 2011.

(By Vanessa Narine)
**Please use photo of GECOM Chief Elections Officer, Mr