Sections of social media exploded this week with videos and images alleging that Commonwealth citizens who did not meet Guyana’s domicile requirement were allowed to cast ballots in the September 1 General and Regional Elections.
By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News.
Jason Carter, Chairperson of the Carter Center Board of Trustees, said that while the issue may not appear outrageous from a legal standpoint, it is one that policymakers must urgently review to avoid controversy in future elections.
“This new parliament and government may want to take up these issues. Bright lines, instead of blurry lines, that define what’s appropriate conduct would be very valuable,” Carter stated.
Guyana’s Constitution under Article 151 allows citizens and Commonwealth nationals to vote only if they are both domiciled and resident in Guyana. “Domicile” requires a person to consider Guyana their permanent home, while “residency” means living in Guyana for at least one year before the qualifying date for registration.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader and APNU Presidential Candidate Aubrey Norton claims his party uncovered unsigned statements of poll, missing numerical data, and instances of ballots cast by Commonwealth nationals who did not meet the constitutional requirement.
“We recognize that there are many Commonwealth citizens who voted without meeting the domicile criteria. These, among other issues, contributed to irregularities in the elections,” Norton contended.
The Guyana Elections Commission has not yet issued a formal statement on these allegations.
