Members of the Disciplined Forces turned out in impressive numbers on Friday morning as the initial phase of voting for the September 1, 2025, General and Regional elections commenced. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) reported an 83% turnout among service members, reflecting strong engagement just one week before the national polls.
The turnout by each service was as follows:
Army: 2,575 of 3,100 eligible ranks voted
Police: 5,727 of 6,909 eligible ranks voted
Prison Service: 397 of 466 eligible officers voted
In comparison, the Disciplined Forces polling in 2020 saw an 81.8% turnout.
Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud addressed the media on Monday, confirming that the voting exercise on August 22 was conducted “in compliance with the laws,” despite minor issues reported early in the day. He emphasized that there were no significant incidents to undermine the credibility of the voting process.
However, Persaud acknowledged discrepancies identified during the sorting process in District Four, where two extra ballots were found in one set. Additionally, one ballot was reported short in District Five, and another was short in District Ten.
“Interrogation led to the point where we zoned in on what could have caused the problem,” Persaud noted, adding that a formal memorandum will be prepared for the seven-member Commission, along with recommendations for resolution.
When questioned about the inability to balance the ballots, Persaud clarified that it was not due to missing votes. “All ballots went out and all came back in,” he stated, explaining the process of issuing ballots in envelopes that contain the elector’s details along with a district-marked envelope for counting.
Polling staff were instructed to insert ballots into the inner, district-marked envelope, but many mistakenly returned them in the outer envelope, complicating the sorting process. “We cannot send the outer envelope for intermixing as it compromises the secrecy of the ballot,” he explained.
As preparations for election day proceed, Persaud confirmed that staffing is in place, although challenges with appointing presiding officers have required GECOM to find replacements. He assured that the logistics plan is progressing smoothly, with a chain of command established for rapid responses to any emergencies, referencing the swift action taken after an accident on the night of the disciplined services voting.
On election day, GECOM will ensure that Statements of Poll are posted at every station and that ballot boxes are securely transported, escorted by police and accompanied by GECOM staff.
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