Voters in Guyana warned to collect ID cards

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana Elections Commission says it has given an estimated 25,000 voters a three-week deadline to collect their national identification cards or risk being removed from the voters' list ahead of the March 2, 2020, regional and general elections.

The commission said following its statutory meeting, the decision was taken that it would soon be publishing the names of the persons who were registered in 2008 and have failed to collect the ID cards.

“The chair has ruled that persons who have not uplifted their identification cards, that their names will be published in the newspapers and they will be given 21 days within which to collect it and if they fail to respond to that, then they will be prevented from voting,” the opposition nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj said.

Last week, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo described as “downright illegal” moves to remove the names of persons from the voters list for the upcoming elections.

Jagdeo told a news conference that the main opposition would contest any such move, adding that collecting an identification card is not a requirement to vote in Guyana.

He said persons can only be disenfranchised “if they are dead or they become insane,” adding “you can’t remove their names for any other reason, it is unconstitutional.

In Guyana, a voter is not required to use an ID card to cast a vote since the registration documents that the polling day staff would have in their possession would contain the photograph of every voter next to their names and details.

Guyanese go to the polls in March next year, more than a year after Jagdeo successfully tabled a motion of no confidence in the David Granger coalition government.

The Caribbean Court of Justice ruled in July that the motion, which had been passed in the National Assembly, where the coalition enjoyed a one-seat majority in December last year, was valid.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.