Georgetown: The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has asserted that notwithstanding its great desire to provide accurate results of the upcoming May 11 elections at the earliest possible time, it remained exceedingly cognisant of the existing logistical and other challenges to doing so.
In that regard, GECOM is encouraging all Guyanese citizens to be very cautious and responsible, and to carefully manage their expectations relative to the timely
announcement of the May 11 elections results.
According to a statement, GECOM said it has noticed some reports in certain sections of the media suggesting that the 2015 election results would most likely be declared the day after the polls. “Please be advised that there exists a number of logistical challenges directly related to the geographic peculiarities that exist, not lastly in the hinterland areas. Similarly, there are a number of unforeseen circumstances which can or may occur and which could have an adverse effect on the timely delivery of the elections results. Therefore, while GECOM will do its utmost to produce prompt and early results, it cannot and will not do so at the expense of accuracy. GECOM would like to clearly reiterate that the delivery of accurate elections results remains one of the priorities of the Commission.”
GECOM said the electoral system being used for the conduct of elections in Guyana is Proportional Representation, which included some elements of Geographical and Gender Representation. The entire mass of 212,000 square kilometres of Guyana represents one single constituency consisting of hundreds of thousands of electors responsible for the election of the President and the 65 members of the National Assembly.
Deleterious circumstances
“This means that in order for GECOM to arrive at accurate results, all votes from all the polling stations across the length and breadth of Guyana must be correctly counted and forwarded to the Chief Election Officer. This is quite unlike the First-Past-The-Post system where there are several small constituencies (less than 20,000) which can quickly be recounted, if there is a challenge,” GECOM explained.
Further, GECOM said that political parties have the right by 12 noon on the Tuesday (May 12, 2015) following Election Day to request a recount. Any such activity would delay the announcement of the poll results.
So, notwithstanding GECOM’s desire to declare early and accurate results of the May 11, 2015 Elections as a priority, deleterious circumstances can impact upon this ambition.
It should also be remembered that the elections of May 11, 2015 are being held at the commencement of the rainy season. This could result in the sudden disappearance of airstrips in the far-flung areas of the country, thus precluding a speedy delivery of results from the hinterland. And it should be noted that the implementing of alternative plans for those eventualities are concomitant with delays. Of course, if everything moves smoothly (no flippant or frivolous legal challenges; no weather-related setbacks; no eruption of violence, etc), then “we may deliver the results by the following day after the closure of polls”.
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