by C Francique
Voter and Civic Registration Officer Ferdinand Phillip said the Parliamentary Elections Office received no formal objections to the police voting process, which took place on Monday, 2 November.
Speaking on the Government Information Service (GIS) programme Wednesday, Phillip addressed several concerns surrounding the electoral process, including circulating allegations that the Elections Office ignored objections raised by party agents during police voting on Monday.
Phillip said the office conducted checks with presiding officers involved in the process and was informed that no objections had been formally raised. He added that senior members of the opposition party were engaged and they indicated that their representatives had not raised any objections.
Phillip cautioned against allowing disagreements and allegations to escalate unnecessarily, stressing that the Parliamentary Elections Office does not wish to see the electoral process descend into chaos.
Phillip also addressed public concerns about returning officers and other election officials being seen at the Elections Office late at night. He explained that the preparation and administration of elections involve considerable work, and some presiding officers have regular daytime employment, making evening hours more convenient for completing their responsibilities.
According to Phillip, there is no provision in the law specifying the particular hours during which election officials must be present at the office to complete their work.
To voters, Phillip reminded that the polls will open at 6 am and close at 5 pm. He appealed to the public to be mindful of the time and make arrangements to vote early. He emphasised that persons who intend to vote must join the line in a timely manner and should not wait until the final seconds to join the line before closing time.
An election official will be stationed behind the last person in the queue at 5 pm ensuring that those already in line at the official closing time are accommodated.
Phillip also called on political parties and candidates to ensure that all campaign materials, including posters and banners, are removed from within the 100-yard boundary of polling stations.
As the country approaches polling day, his message was one of cooperation, vigilance and respect for the electoral process.
NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
