–rejects ‘dead voting’ claims, reiterates one-year residency rule that allows Commonwealth citizens to vote

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday night moved to counter widespread misinformation surrounding the 2025 General and Regional Elections, rejecting claims of deceased persons casting ballots and clarifying the voting rights of Commonwealth citizens.
At its first press conference after polls closed at the Regency Suites in Georgetown, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward stressed that the integrity of the voting process remains intact, despite several false reports circulating Online.

One of the most persistent rumours involved allegations that “dead persons voted” in areas along the East Coast Demerara (ECD), including Foulis and Enmore.
Ward said that names of deceased persons may still appear on the Official List of Electors (OLE) if official death certificates have not been lodged with the General Register Office (GRO).
She explained that names cannot be removed from the voters’ list without the required legal documentation, a safeguard designed to preserve both accuracy and legality.
Reports of ballots being cast in the names of deceased persons, she added, are merely “allegations”.

Ward also underscored that GECOM does not have investigative powers to pursue these allegations, but that it is confident all legal mechanisms are in place to protect against electoral fraud.
“[Without the submission of the death certificate], names may remain until the next list revision cycle. This is a legal safeguard to prevent wrongful removal,” she said, adding: “The legal process that GECOM engages in, in relation to how persons are removed from the list, involves receiving death returns from the General Register Office.
“The flagging [of the deceased] is done through the legal provisions or during the Claims and Objections period. We have published the multiple safeguards in place to guard against any possible impersonation.”

Besides rebutting the “dead voting” claims, GECOM also clarified the eligibility of Commonwealth nationals, specifically Bangladeshi citizens, who meet the legal requirements to vote.
Ward reaffirmed that under the National Registration Act (NRA), nationals of Commonwealth countries who have been lawfully resident in Guyana for at least one year, are entitled to register and vote.

“Under Guyana’s laws, Commonwealth citizens residing legally in Guyana for over one year are eligible to vote. The identification cards issued reflect the legal residency status, and are valid for electoral purposes,” she said, noting that this provision has long been part of Guyana’s electoral laws.
Ward also reminded that while the national ID card is commonly used to vote, it is not mandatory.

Anyone whose name appears on the OLE can vote after answering security questions, and, if necessary, signing an oath as required by the Representation of the People Act.
She said: “Persons without an ID card can still vote, once their name is on the Official List of Electors. It is important to note that, in such cases, there is a procedure that must be followed: They must answer security questions, and may be required to sign an oath…”

Addressing concerns about multiple registrants at the same address, Ward noted that GECOM has no authority over individuals’ living arrangements.
She said: “There are instances where companies or agencies house employees at one location. What matters is that the registration process is followed in compliance with the law.”
Regarding voter turnout, GECOM has urged the public to await official results, noting that reports of low participation across the country remain unverified.
“I like to deal with numbers, and so, to prematurely tell you about turnout would really be just a little bit of observation. What might work for you may not work for us. But from a GECOM standpoint, as the electoral management body, I prefer that we look at the numbers before making any pronouncement on turnout,” the PRO stated.
She sought to reassure the public that Monday’s elections were conducted “smoothly, peacefully, and transparently,” with only minor issues reported and swiftly addressed.
“For us, the voting process has proceeded smoothly and peacefully across the country. Where issues have arisen, they have been addressed promptly and transparently, in accordance with the law,” Ward said.

With voting concluded, GECOM now turns its focus to tabulating and verifying the results.
A total of 757,690 registered voters across Guyana’s 10 administrative regions were eligible to cast their ballots at 2,790 polling stations, supported by more than 10,000 polling day workers.
The six parties that contested the elections were the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), the Alliance For Change (AFC), the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), and the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP).