Elections Act needs comprehensive review — Elections Supervisor
Supervisor of Elections Scherrie Griffin has called for a thorough assessment of the territory’s Elections Act in the wake of the just-concluded general elections.
“I think that the elections in itself need a comprehensive review. We need to move away from seemingly responding or making reforms to the legislation shortly before the next elections,” Griffin argued.
She explained that the territory is now four years out from the next constitutionally due general elections and should work towards implementing whatever reforms are necessary at the earliest possible opportunity.
Just recently, Third District Representative Julian Fraser said he did not support the government’s move to make last-minute changes to the territory’s Elections Act.
Changes were introduced in the Elections (Amendment) Act, 2023 that lawmakers debated in the House of Assembly (HOA) on March 10, mere weeks ahead of the just-concluded elections. That date also marked what should have been the absolute last day of regular House sittings before elections.
Fixed-date elections needed
Meanwhile, the Elections Supervisor has also argued that the BVI has come to a point where there is a need for a fixed date for elections and contended that the absence of this has undoubtedly put additional stress on her office to execute its mandate.
“We have grown away from not having a fixed date [for elections]. We need to move towards having a fixed date that would allow for better planning,” Griffin said following the closure of polls. “The short time frame does not allow for you to adequately or efficiently respond to any crises that may arise and it may then have a negative impact on the Office’s ability to function.”
Griffin pointed out that the tools that are currently available to her team to be used within tight deadlines do not allow for the office to manoeuvre sufficiently, particularly with new procurement processes that have recently been put in place.
She further commented that her experience in her first elections was both fulfilling and rewarding and expressed that although it proved to be challenging, she received overwhelming support from the public, close family members and friends as well as members of her office and the Deputy Governor‘s Office.
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They also need to stop people who hasn’t lived here in the past four years to vote for our future.
Comprehensive Review…
1. Ensure that persons living and working in the USA mainland can in no way, shape or form be allowed to vote.
2. Create a means by which persons can confidentially (with evidence) report the buying of votes.
3. Make no special allowance for English as a second language. Reasons – to get belonger status persons should (already)be able to converse in the country’s language – English!; names on ballots are the names of the people (Are you going to have them written in a foreign language?)
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation
Make it a requirement to vote where you live, not where you used to live and you still want to have influence. Require people to re-register within 90 days of moving districts.
Maybe – maybe make voting compulsory.
Campaign donations and funding. This is very important as needs to be fleshed out and added scrutiny placed. Why should the public not know where the money ? coming from for some of these shenanigans? What’s in it for them…?
that if I relocate to keep my family together while the children further their education and plan to return I must be allowed to vote and there are other reasons why people may be out of the Territory for extended periods. Why should they lose their rights when persons who live here all the time refuse to go to the polls.
Voting should be compulsory. In this computer age, it should be easy enough to know who participates in the process. Those are the persons who should be entitled to assistance of any kind here in Territory, financially or otherwise.
Yes – what he said – campaign donation limits and transparency.
It won’t be easy to stop a Belonger living overseas from traveling back to vote. What would be the basis to not allow them to enter the Territory? What would prevent them from registering to vote.
FYI Many countries encourage/require its citizens living overseas to vote in their home countries elections.
Voting should be compulsory in the same way that it is compulsory to obey the laws of the land. It’s a civic responsibility
The total number of votes cast for district representatives came out to be about 8100. The online media indicated a couple of weeks ago that there were 16,000 registered voters. In other words, looks like the recent election represents the will of just about half of them. Not exactly democratic.
All good ideas. And this is minor but the teeny tiny oval that we had to shade in was … too tiny … how about a fingerprint in ink ?
Also , how come we the voters can’t choose who to vote for as Premier ?
Persons who pay taxes here but live abroad need to have a sah as well. Taxes pay our bills.
Go sit dung. Once a person has interest in a district they most definitely should be allowed to vote in the district they are in. You cannot fight for what you don’t have or would never have interest in
We should be allowed to vote for the Premier and they need to bring back Proxy Votes by paper ballot or by computer.
Once persons has interest in a district they should be allowed to vote in that district of interest. House, property