Electoral Department makes appeal to unverified voters

The Electoral Department has extended the deadline for persons whose names appear on the list of unverified voters to check with the office, to get on the official Voters List.

The announcement was made on Wednesday during a press conference at the Department’s High Street, Castries office, where Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Gasper Jn. Baptiste, announced a date.

Jn Baptiste declared that registered electors whose names appear on the list are asked to avail themselves at any one of their offices located across the island, no later than March 15.

“We have taken the decision to extend the period for scrutiny if the list by an additional month giving registered electors whose names appear on that list a further opportunity to regularize their registration status,” the CEO explained.

The Department first published a list of unverified voters on February 7, 2016.

According to Jn Baptiste, failure to do so will result in their names being deleted from the Voters List in accordance with the Elections Act, which states that where an elector who has been notified has failed to appear before the CEO, the elector’s name must be removed from the register of electors.

However, electors whose name are on the list of unverified voters, will still be able to vote at the next general elections if he or she shows up at the polling station on Election Day.

The Department said 640 registrations have been rectified as of February 29, 2016.

Meanwhile, the number of electors without an identification (ID) card is now 26,351, while there are 68,324 ID cards due to expire in 2016, something the Department hope could be rectified before elections.

“Holders of National ID cards that are due to expire in 2016, are asked to visit one of centres or offices for the renewal of their cards, along with a birth certificate,” Jn Baptiste declared.

The Department has debunked claims that the unverified list was prepared only this year, explaining that the process started since 2015, because elections is constitutionally due in 2017.

The Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has raised concerns about the Electoral Department’s move to remove the over 28,000 names from the Voters list and said having two lists on Election Day will create some level of chaos.

The party said it find its strange that this is happening at a time when the country is about to hold a general election. The UWP has also committed itself to conduct its own investigations, because they believe there are many Saint Lucians who may be returning home to vote.

The party said it plans to write the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Organization of American States (OAS), Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on this issue.

Via St Lucia News Online