Chief Election Officer cautions about converging around polling stations

Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield yesterday announced that there will be approximately 2500 polling stations on Elections Day and he cautioned about the converging of persons around these.

He said that the commission will “soon” meet with representatives of the various contesting parties to discuss the issue.

Lowenfield reminded that it is illegal for any individual to be closer than 200 yards to any polling station. He said anyone who is found annoying, molesting or otherwise interfering with voters can be sentenced to six months imprisonment or fined a sum of $65,000.

“At our engagements with the representatives … …primarily with the agents of the respective parties those matters will be addressed in a definitive manner,” Lowenfield said.

He was at the time delivering his presentation at the media training on elections which is being held by the Guyana Press Association (GPA) in collaboration with Guyana Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).

In recent days, concerns have been raised about this issue following calls by members of the governing coalition for their supporters to remain outside polling places until the Statement of Poll is posted.

Chair of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Volda Lawrence told a crowd at the Kitty

Market square last Sunday night “to remain there until they get it right” before declaring that party supporters should “follow the ballot box” and ensure that it is properly sealed by APNU+AFC party agents.

The CEO yesterday explained that the party agents and officials from GECOM will be responsible for following the ballot boxes until they are secured.

“The Commission has approved the movement of agents from the respective parties …they will observe GECOM placing the boxes into a container in the presence of all party agents,” Lowenfield said.

He further explained that the figure for the polling stations is approximate and has not yet been finalized since the commission is deliberating on the issues of having polling stations at private residences.

“In Guyana ideally public or other buildings would be ideal for the accommodation of polling stations. But Guyana, that is not strictly accurate and therefore there are some divisions and sub-divisions where there are no public buildings,” he said.

As such, Lowenfield noted that GECOM resorted to the use of private residences in the past.

As it relates to the Disciplined Services voting which will be conducted on February 21, Lowenfield said a total of nine polling stations will be set up: three for the Guyana Police Force, five

Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield for the Guyana Defence Force and one for Guyana Prison Service.