“ON Schedule,” is how Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield described the current state of operations at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), ahead of the May 11 General and Regional elections.Also, the Official Lists of Electors (OLE) are currently available online, at http://www.gecom.org.gy/OLE2015.html, and have been posted in all of GECOM’s Registration Districts – the locations of which have been widely publicised by the Commission.
The OLE will facilitate voting on E-Day and GECOM staffers will also be guided by Folios containing the photograph and other important bio data of all electors. These Folios are to be utilised in Polling stations by the Presiding Officers and political party agents present, as an additional means of voter verification.
The CEO noted that these moves follow the certification of the OLE and are in accordance with statutory obligations.
In addition to the voters’ list, a notice of poll has reportedly been posted in each of the 10 polling districts countrywide – another statutory obligation on the part of GECOM.
The notice is expected to read: “Take notice that a poll will be held on the 11th day of May 2011 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., to elect the 65 members of the National Assembly and members of the Regional Democratic Council of each region of Guyana. The situation of each polling place in the 1 to 10 polling districts and the names of the electors who are entitled to vote are attached.”
Additionally, Government earlier this month gave its no-objection for some $32.8 million for the retaining of service providers for the promotion of infomercials for the upcoming polls. As such, GECOM’s voter education campaign is ongoing with just over a week to go until E-Day.(Vanessa Narine)