FOR many young persons across Guyana, house-to-house registration is a prerequisite for ‘free and fair’ elections and they underscored that this registration must be conducted ahead of Guyana’s General and Regional Elections.

“The importance of house-to-house registration can never be over emphasised, especially in a state which recognises the democratic process; more particularly, as it relates to the election of a government,” Christopher Belfield told the Guyana Chronicle.

Belfield, who is an LLB Student and Paralegal Assistant, reminded that being registered is a right and legal requirement, and failing to do so may attract a penalty as stipulated by the National Registration Act s.(6).

The Official List of Electors expired on April 30, and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is in the process of preparing for house-to-house registration. However, in light of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)’s ruling that the no-confidence motion (NCM) against the government is valid, the opposition is now demanding that the registration process be halted, and elections held in three months.

However, this young man opined that this “need for earlier elections” only makes it more pertinent for those who are eligible to be registered, and more importantly, those who are eligible to vote, be afforded the registration opportunity. This, he reasoned, eliminates any possible disenfranchisement and provides for the removal of those persons who no longer belong on the list.

“I think with the discovery of oil, Guyanese intend to use this right to elect a government who will sustainably manage this and other resources, and has the welfare of Guyana at heart,” Belfield said, adding: “Registration ensures democracy, and democracy ensures that our interests are protected and catered to.”

In the context of the NCM and the CCJ’s ruling, 19-year-old Sasha Cox related that the registration is necessary to prevent young people from being disenfranchised.

However, she reasoned that the house-to-house registration may be “a lengthy process” and was unsure if this will be made possible given the opposition towards is. Nevertheless, she said that she remains hopeful that it will be done before elections are held.

“Overall, I think that they should perform the exercise so as to cleanse the list and have free and fair elections,” she said nevertheless.

The matter of timeliness was also a concern for another 19-year-old, R. Persaud (name provided). “Constitutionally, it is correct to have house-to-house registration done in order to have a list of electors for the specified date of elections [and] from what I understand, it is implied that this list be prepared for that cycle of elections,” Persaud stated, noting that this is just simply the law.

However, she opined that the current registration system is one that could be improved. “I believe it (the house-to-house registration) is a time-consuming and a dated method… and it’s about time we had modern, reliable strategies in place to take account for the general population that can vote,” the young woman said.

Upgrading this system too, according to her, would allow for there to be more reliability and so that accountability can be reinforced. She suggested the creation of an established database that is continuously updated with population changes.

Roshinie (only name given), a vendor in the Stabroek Market, expressed that she thinks ‘house-to-house’ is just “better for all people”. Her colleague, Nadira (only name given) shared this view, and added that conducting the registration would reflect a more “accurate” representation of the population.

“It’s a good thing for them to do… I really think that house-to-house [registration] should be done,” said Roma, a 22-year-old cook inside the Stabroek Market. She opined that this is necessary so that the young people who have come of age can be allowed to vote in order to elect a government of their choice.

The Elections Commission has in place a central register of all residents of Guyana entitled to vote, in addition to persons age 14 and above. A preliminary list of electors is extracted from the central register taking into account all persons 18 years and older. While registered persons can be added to the voters’ list upon attaining the age of 18, some young people have never been registered.

Student of the University of Guyana (UG), Sarah David-Longe related that she has never been registered and does not possess an identification (ID) card, due to a variety of reasons, but this registration would not only afford her the opportunity of having a national ID card, but also make her capable of voting.

“If we’re talking free and fair elections then house-to-house is a must,” the 19-year-old said.

Similarly, Selena (only name given), a resident of Bartica, shared that she became 18 years old in January, which should mean that she can vote, but she was not registered before.

“I firmly believe that house-to-house should be done to cleanse the list… my neighbour, she passed away but she is on the list, and I am not the list,” Selena said. “I also need to be on the list to be eligible to vote and so should new registration be done, we would definitely love that,” she related.

She also related that many of her colleagues in Bartica have also not been registered, and if elections are held without this registration, they will all be “deprived” of voting.

Lakasie Vieira, a sixth-form law student at Queen’s College, stressed that there is universal adult suffrage in Guyana, which means that it is enshrined in the constitution that each Guyanese, once 18 years or older, is eligible to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

However, she also acknowledged that it is similarly constitutional that elections be held within that set time period because of the NCM.

What should be taken into consideration, according to her, is that people remain enfranchised.

“I believe the list should be updated, [otherwise] the elected party would only represent a portion of the electorate’s view and it would be biased,” Vieira reasoned.

Lending his voice to the conversation was Brian Peters, another sixth-form student, who said that the list should be updated to “clear-up” the unnecessary listing of persons, i.e., persons who have passed away or who have migrated.

Additionally, he opined that house-to-house registration could be a mechanism of educating persons – particularly younger persons like himself – on the electoral process and the need for their participation in same.