Concerns Raised After Ballot Photos Surface Despite GECOM’s Cell Phone Ban
By Tiana Cole HGP Nightly News
Days after the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) announced a comprehensive ban on the use of cell phones inside polling stations, images of marked ballots cast by members of the Disciplined Services during Friday’s early voting surfaced on social media.
The photos, shared just hours after polls opened, have triggered sharp criticism from opposition parties.
Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton, described the act as a serious violation of the law.
“Once people can photograph their ballots, it opens the door to irregularities. As we pursue free and fair elections, this must be addressed properly,” Norton said.
He also disclosed that his agents have been instructed not to encourage voting unless they can clearly observe individuals entering the polling booths, citing the need for stricter scrutiny to prevent “widespread rigging.”
Meanwhile, Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman David Patterson also raised alarm, noting that despite GECOM’s ban, voters were still posting photographs from inside polling stations.
“Obviously, GECOM will have to tighten up on this regulation about no cameras in polling stations and the secrecy of the ballot,” Patterson said.
He further highlighted troubling reports from AFC polling agents alleging that a significant number of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks voted without identification cards—something Patterson called “highly irregular and surprising.” He estimated this represented about five to six percent of voters in some areas, particularly in hinterland regions with smaller electorates.
GECOM had announced the cell phone ban earlier in the week, stressing that it was necessary to protect ballot secrecy and curb vote-selling schemes linked to ballot photography.
