Electoral activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

THE WORLD is currently caught in the grip of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. With elections scheduled to be held in several jurisdictions during 2020, inclusive of Haiti, New Zealand, the United States of America, and Trinidad and Tobago, this is posing a novel challenge.

In the Caribbean, elections are usually affected by an event like a hurricane, which typically facilitates easier post-event planning. The coronavirus poses a different challenge since the duration and scope of its impact are more difficult to assess, plan for, and mitigate.

Governments, along with election-management bodies, have been forced to review options available to them. Already, countries have taken the decision to delay or postpone elections at parliamentary, municipal, and regional levels. Others with elections due in the latter part of 2020 to the first half of 2021 are adopting more of a waitand-see attitude.

POSTPONING AN ELECTION

The decision to delay or postpone a national election cannot be taken lightly. Primarily, the decision is expected to adhere to constitutional and other legislative provisions. Conducting an election during a pandemic should aim to limit the risk to electors and workers while ensuring that there are no impediments to electors to freely exercise their franchise. Decisions should be arrived at based on the legal framework, accurate risk assessment, and evidence-based public health advice.

In summary, there is no one-sizefits-all approach. Each country must make a decision based on its own unique situation, including legal provisions.

JAMAICA’S REALITY

Despite widespread speculations that general elections in Jamaica will be held in 2020, the elections are not constitutionally due until March of 2021. The life of the Parliament automatically ends five years after its first sitting unless dissolved earlier. The Constitution permits a period of 90 days after the automatic dissolution of Parliament within which a general election must be held. Provision is made for the life of the Parliament to be extended in the event of Jamaica being at war. This should not be confused with the provisions under the Representation of the People Act for elections to be postponed should certain emergencies occur after the proclamation by the governor general, appointing the day for the taking of the poll. The current crisis might affect the timetable of the prime minister for calling the elections, but he is the only one that would know for certain.

In looking at the impact of the coronavirus crisis, most people would be able to see the ban on public gathering as the major reason for elections not going ahead during the pandemic. This aspect would affect countries differently, depending on the electoral system and the level of infection.

Countries with limited infection might decide to proceed with elections while making special arrangements for electors in the most badly affected areas. Others, like the United States, can decide to proceed with an election based on the range of options available to electors to cast their ballots. Options include greater utilisation of the advance-voting facility. Electors are able to vote at polling places established to facilitate voting ahead of the designated polling day. This option would provide voters with the opportunity to vote in a less-crowded environment.

Even more important, the system provides the option for electors to mail in their ballots. Electors can vote without actually leaving home, eliminating the need to congregate at polling stations. Mail-in ballots, if widely employed, would play a significant role in facilitating polling during a pandemic. The fear, however, in addition to security of the vote, is the possibility of significantly reduced voter participation.

In countries like Jamaica, electors must go to polling stations to vote. Advance-voting exists only for the security forces and election day worker. No facility exists for mail-in ballots, and so the issue of crowding at polling stations remains a major consideration.

OTHER AREAS OF IMPACT

Apart from the issue of crowds at polling stations, which could be partially mitigated by increasing the number of polling places, what are the other areas of the electoral process that would be affected by the current pandemic?

For politicians, the first point of reference would be campaign rallies. While acknowledging that greater use of social and traditional media are options, these do not satisfy or replace the adrenalin rush experienced by both politicians and supporters during a face-toface encounter. Nor does it take into account that sections of the population do not have access to social-media platforms for various reasons. So if the crisis continues, politicians in Jamaica and other developing countries would not be able to employ the proven approach of “rallying the troops” using campaign rallies.

Training of election day workers (EDWs) is another area of possible impact. EDWs are usually trained in a classroom setting, which would increase the possibility of spreading infection. Mitigation efforts would include limiting class sizes and utilising online training. The problem in Jamaica is that a significant number of EDWs might not be able to access online training for different reasons. This could range from inability to use the technology, lack of internet connectivity, through to not being in possession of an appropriate device.

In democracies like Jamaica, a significant portion of electoral materials and equipment are procured overseas. The coronavirus pandemic could affect the ability of some companies to fill export orders while countries could experience difficulties importing goods as a result of border closures. Even where local companies are the chief suppliers, the ability of these companies to deliver could be severely hampered by the impact on their ability to operate. Operations could be shut down or reduced to limit staff exposure to possible infection as well as by shortage of raw materials.

Voter registration is expected to be affected during the pandemic. In Jamaica, registration centres have been closed as a result of the limits placed on social gathering. Vulnerable citizens have been asked to stay at home. At the same time, the present system does not facilitate online registration.

The hope is that this public-health crisis is firmly behind Jamaica before the elections are called despite the reality that elections held post-COVID-19 might suffer from smaller voter turnout.

■ Orrette Fisher is an election management consultant and former director of elections. Email feedback to columns@ gleanerjm.com.