Just a day after issuing warnings about the importance of maintaining the secrecy of votes, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) voted against a proposal to require voters to lodge their phones before casting their ballots. The decision was made at a meeting of the seven-member Commission held this afternoon.
Chairman of GECOM, retired Justice Claudette Singh, supported the position advocated by government-nominated Commissioners that voters should not have their phones confiscated prior to entering the polling booth. However, the Commission unanimously agreed that taking photographs of one’s ballot remains illegal.
Longstanding Election Commissioner Vincent Alexander expressed concerns over voters entering polling booths with their phones, citing evidence of past incidents where individuals photographed their ballots and shared their voting choices on social media. He highlighted a deeper issue of vote buying, stating, “My concern is that voters are being purchased… a condition is that a person should take a picture to show that they did vote as promised before they are paid. That is a form of coercion.”
Alexander argued that allowing phones in the polling booth increases the risk of corrupt practices and undermines free, fair, and transparent elections. However, the majority of Commissioners, including those appointed by the government, objected to this proposition, primarily due to concerns about the security of the devices if they were to be lodged.
In a statement released Monday, GECOM reiterated that the Representation of the People’s Act prohibits voters from sharing information about the political party for which they have voted. It is also illegal for anyone to influence voters to display their ballot or reveal their political choice, with penalties including a fine and up to six months of imprisonment for violations.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) responded to the decision by emphasizing the need to guarantee the secrecy of the ballot. The party stated, “Elections can only be a true reflection of the will of the people when individuals can vote free from fear, coercion, and bribes.”
APNU called on GECOM to actively publicize the laws against photographing ballots and ensure strict enforcement on Election Day to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
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