BVI News

Operations tighten at polling stations, no more polling agents per candidate

Supervisor of Elections, Juliette Penn

Political candidates affiliated with a party can no longer assign two or even one polling agent to monitor their individual interests at the polling station on Election Day.

Amendments to the territory’s Election Act now reserves that right for political parties and independent candidates only.

In explaining the amendment at a press conference at Government House on Monday, Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Carolyn Stoutt-Igwe said: “Because of the increase in the number of parties that we have now and also the restrictions in some of the polling stations, we have now agreed that political parties will be allowed three agents. But, only two can be in the station at the same time. Independent candidates will continue to have two but again only one can be in the station at one given time.”

“In the past, each candidate was allowed at least two but only one could be in the polling station at the same time,” she noted.

These are some of the changes made ahead of the February 25 general elections.

February 21 is advanced polling day, who is eligible?

The territory, in the meantime, will have advanced polling on February 21 from 9 am to 2 pm.

Supervisor of Elections Juliette Penn said persons eligible for advanced pollings are the elderly, illiterate persons, sick persons, prison inmates, police officers, election workers and persons who will be travelling on Election Day.

Persons travelling must produce an itinerary showing proof of travel.

More than 14,000 persons have registered to vote for these elections. This figure exceeds the number of register voters in the 2015 General Election.

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6 Comments

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  1. strupes says:

    bull shiggidy

    Like 1
    Dislike 2
  2. Georgie says:

    Doesn’t sound tightened too me … headline miss leading

  3. Wolf says:

    People instead of crying wolf, wouldn’t it be better if you do a proper analysis? You alluded to the fact that 1000s left the Territory but do you know how much of those returned and how much of those were expats hence ineligible to vote? Also, were you keeping record of all the young people who turned 18; and all of those who got naturalized within the past 4 years? There are so many factors to take into consideration before jumping to conclusions.
    I stand to be corrected so I need to feel free to do that. I was only trying to help.

  4. Interested says:

    At what age does “elderly “ begin ?

  5. Islander says:

    Prisoners should no vote

    • Shorty says:

      Reading is fundamental prisoners aren’t voting. Individuals who are on REMAND are allowed to vote. Let’s break it down, someone on remand has not yet been convicted of an offence and sentenced to a specified term in prison. They are still innocent until proven guilty in the court of law. There have been persons who were awaiting trial on remand and boom released without further charge no criminal record because they were not convicted of anything. They were just being housed at HMP without bail in until their court date for trial due to the seriousness of the allegations. It is the same as if they were out on bail pending their trail they would be eligible to vote.

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