Cabinet approves ‘single ballot process’ for next elections

As government moves to make the procedures surrounding general elections more efficient, Cabinet has approved for the territory to utilise what is known as a single ballot process.

This means that, unlike previous elections, voters will be given a single ballot sheet to cast their vote for a territorial candidate and a district candidate, respectively.

Supervisor of Elections Juliette Penn said such an improvement would be more cost effective and time-saving.

“In previous elections when you came in to vote, you got your ‘district ballot’, you were instructed on how to vote, you went into the booth, you voted and came back. You then had to stand up in line again, to get a second ballot to be instructed again, to go back in again, and to come back out,” Penn explained in a brief interview with BVI News on Friday.

Cabinet approved for a single ballot process during its September 9 meeting.

Cabinet had also approved the use of the new DS 200 Precinct Scanner and e-poll books for next general elections.

This scanner is a piece of voting equipment developed by a company in the United States. The technology is expected to result in a faster and more efficient ballot-tallying process.

The next general elections are constitutionally due in the summer of 2019.