A TOTAL of 10,481 members of the Disciplined Forces will cast their votes on Friday, August 22, for the political party of their choice at the General and Regional Elections at over 80 polling stations across the country.

Preparations are in place to facilitate a smooth process, officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) revealed on Saturday during a training session for media practitioners.

Approximately 6,909 ranks from the Guyana Police Force, 466 from the Guyana Prison Service and 3,106 Guyana Defence Force ranks are expected to cast their votes.

Public Relations Officer of GECOM, Yolanda Ward, had previously explained that, based on GECOM’s standard electoral procedures, votes cast by the Disciplined Forces are not counted separately.

Instead, the ballots are secured in tamper-proof containers and later mixed with the general ballots on Election Day before being counted. It is tradition for members of the Disciplined Forces vote prior to the general public to allow them to be deployed for security duties on Election Day.

In preparation for the upcoming General and Regional Elections set for September 1, 2025, Ward said that GECOM has appointed ballot officers for members of the Disciplined Forces.

According to a notice published in the Official Gazette dated June 5, 2025, Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud, formally appointed three individuals to oversee balloting within the respective security agencies. The appointments are in accordance with Section 65I (1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act, Cap. 1:03.

The appointed officers are Areana Britton, who will serve as the ballot officer for the Guyana Defence Force, established under the Defence Act, Cap. 15:01; Sharon Jethu, who has been designated for the Guyana Police Force, established under the Police Act, Cap. 16:01; and Sadhna Boodhanlall, who will be responsible for the Guyana Prison Service, established under the Prison Act, Cap. 11:01.