Voter registration closes Monday | Gov’t-issued IDs can be used for 2019 elections
Eligible persons now have until Monday, January 28 to make the final list. Persons who have moved from their place of residence must also apply for a transfer by that date.
“On Monday at 4:30 pm, all registration ceases for this upcoming general elections,” Supervisor of Elections Juliette Penn said on Thursday.
And as the elections office introduces voter registration cards, Penn said it will not be mandatory for voters to have them for the 2019 elections.
She said: “Those persons who are not able to get a card will still be able to vote when they go to the polls. They are to walk with some form of government ID either a passport, driver’s licence, or NHI card. They will be able to vote. And if persons do not have any of those documents, there is provision at the polls to enable them to vote as well. They would have to do an affidavit and then they will be given a ballot to vote.”
Penn made those statements on Thursday, hours after Premier Dr D Orlando announced that the 2019 General Elections will be held on February 25.
How to register | At least 50 registrations per day, mostly young persons
In the meantime, persons looking to register must visit the Office of the Supervisor of Elections located on the ground floor of the Ulric Dawson’s Building on Russell Hill Road in Road Town, Tortola.
While registration is still open, the elections office said the territory has already surpassed the number of voters who registered for the 2015 General Elections. Penn said her office receives at least 50 new registrations per day.
“We have had a great number of persons coming in to register to vote; in particular, young people,” Penn said.
As of Tuesday, January 22, the number of register voters stood at 14,095. That figure represents 510 more than the previous elections.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
People get out and register to Vote! You have a voice in the decisions being made in this territory when you vote. If you fail to vote, means you are not voicing your rights, and physically (voice) have no comments!
And vote for uprightness, experience and knowledge.
And, vote for those who we can at least hope will look out for the financial well-being of all. After-all, it took forty years just to get a minimum wage bill.
Moreover, people have not seen a wage or increment increase in ten or more years, yet the cost of living has risen to over 1000% in those years.
Yet, average people with average means were sent up to lead us only to end up with outlandish wealth, while everyone else is still suffering at the minds and hands of the pricer of goods and services.
But not only that, here on the horizon are more prospective’s whose only intention and motivation are money and wealth accumulation.
Those are the kind of folk we will be voting for again this cycle.
So, vote for an economic change for all, not just the elected few.
Would there be proof that they are eligible to vote before given an affidavit?
We need it to be a fair election
Follow Obama’s rule and let Non Belongers and people who don’t even live in the BVI vote.