Even if your name is removed from the Voters’ List for failing to uplift your National Identification (ID) Card since 2008, you will still be able to vote on March 2, next year. This is according to the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Retired) Claudette Singh.
During an interview on Kaieteur Radio, Singh said, “GECOM has 25,000 ID cards that were never collected. The issue is not really their ID cards, it is the fact that since 2008, persons did not collect their ID cards. They are asking for persons to come in and collect their ID cards. Those persons will not only be published but also written to and give 21 days to come in and say ‘I’m alive’,” she explained.
She added that failure to satisfy this requirement of the Commission within the specified time will result in the names being removed from the Official List of Electors (OLE) and placed on another list which would be supplemental to the Official List of Electors.
On elections day, however, persons will be allowed to vote provided that identification is verified by producing any of the following documents:
(a) A Guyana issued birth certificate;
(b) A certificate of registration;
(c) A valid Guyana Passport
(d) A naturalization certificate
(e) an adoption certificate.
Justice Singh added that the names of these persons, despite being removed from this list, will not be removed from the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB).
Her clarification comes on the heels of the Opposition and several other entities expressing concern that the removal of these names will disenfranchise eligible voters.
