Elections Commissioner Warns of Unpreparedness Ahead of September 1 Polls
By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
Opposition-appointed commissioner on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Vincent Alexander, has raised serious concerns about the commission’s readiness to deliver free, fair, and transparent elections on September 1, 2025.
Alexander argued that GECOM has failed to complete critical steps necessary for a proper state of preparedness, suggesting there is both legal justification and precedent for a possible delay.
“If the commission is not fully ready, then there is every reason—legally and practically—for the postponement of elections,” Alexander cautioned.
Meanwhile, Alexander also weighed in on GECOM’s recent ban on the use of cell phones inside polling stations. The new policy requires voters to switch off their phones before entering polling stations, with presiding officers holding them until the voting process is completed. Voting compartments will also be positioned to allow election staff and accredited party agents to observe any attempts to photograph ballots, while still safeguarding voter privacy.
Alexander argued that the move could have been handled with a simple public notification, while others, including Alliance for Change (AFC) executive member Catherine Hughes, welcomed the rule as a critical safeguard.
“The banning of cell phones in polling stations and voting booths is a critical step in ensuring that we can have a free and fair election,” Hughes said.
On Tuesday, GECOM formally announced the cell phone ban, stressing that it is aimed at protecting the sanctity and secrecy of the ballot and curbing the practice of vote-selling linked to ballot photography.
