News Source Guyana Reports : A total of 13,269 first-time voters are set to participate in the General and Regional Elections scheduled for Monday, September 1, according to statistics from Yolanda Ward, Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
This number encompasses individuals who have recently turned 18 and those registering with the Elections Commission for the first time, all of whom are included in the National Register of Registrants Database, which serves as the foundation for the List of Electors.
Breakdown of First-Time Voters by Region
Region 1: 732 first-time voters
Region 2: 872 first-time voters
Region 3: 1,954 first-time voters
Region 4: 5,050 first-time voters
Region 5: 831 first-time voters
Region 6: 1,626 first-time voters
Region 7: 507 first-time voters
Region 8: 266 first-time voters
Region 9: 700 first-time voters
Region 10: 731 first-time voters
The total number of registered voters in the Official List of Electors exceeds 750,000.
Addressing Concerns Over Voter Integrity
In an interview on the program SOURCES, which airs this Sunday, Ward addressed concerns regarding the removal of deceased individuals from the List of Electors. She acknowledged that while the Elections Secretariat consistently works to remove the names of deceased persons, challenges persist.
“There are many issues,” Ward explained. “For example, the death may not have been registered, so the General Registrar’s Office (GRO) may not be able to notify us. A relative may also not have presented the requisite documentation for us to complete the removal.”
Ward assured the public that various safeguards are in place to prevent voter impersonation and fraudulent voting, emphasizing the integrity of the electoral process. “We have published the safeguards that are in place, particularly concerning the integrity of the poll, to ensure that impersonation does not occur and that the individual casting their ballot is indeed the registered voter,” she stated.
With six parties contesting the elections, GECOM is prepared for a significant turnout as Guyanese head to the polls on Monday.
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