THE Guyanese voter population has been benefiting from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)’s civic and voter education programme over the last several weeks.And Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Mr Vishnu Persaud, in an invited comment, explained that this effort will be intensified closer to the May 11 general and regional elections.

“Work is ongoing on our civic and voter education programme, and this will be intensified closer to the elections,” he said.

Persaud reasoned that the messages of GECOM’s civic and voter education programme have a stronger chance of being retained if done closer to polling day.

He said that current efforts include placing notices in the daily newspapers; infomercials on radio and television stations; distributing flyers within the various regions, and deploying persons on public announcement systems within several communities.

“We have also appointed people in the regions to assist with the voter education programme,” Persaud said, adding that GECOM’s focus is to ensure that all eligible voters are made aware of E-Day procedures as well as their rights.

The ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), via General Secretary Clement Rohee, has called on GECOM to ensure that everything is done to conduct an aggressive voter education programme.

“Voters must be aware of what to expect from GECOM’s polling day staff; for instance, stamping of the ballot with the official stamp,” he said at a news conference last Tuesday.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has also called on GECOM to do more with its civic and voter education programme.

“More needs to be done on the part of GECOM for voters’ education. We have been going into some communities and we are being asked how to vote,” said APNU leader, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, earlier in February.

The AFC has also warned that GECOM not put in place a proper voter education programme could translate into problems come polling day.

All the expressed concerns considered, the Commission’s DCEO has assured that every effort will be taken to ensure adequate measures are in place to educate the voting Guyanese public. (Vanessa Narine)