Dominicans are voting in a historic election tomorrow
As residents in Dominica get set to vote in very interesting elections, the electoral office is reminding voters that during all elections, the secrecy of the ballot and the protection of that secrecy are of ultimate importance.
Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit called a snap election two and a half years before it is constitutionally due
The main opposition United Workers Party has decided to boycott the elections, saying that without a clean voters list and electoral reform.
Chief Electoral Officer Ian Michael Anthony stated, “As you, the electorate, go out the cast your ballot on election day, I take the opportunity to emphasize a very important aspect our electoral process, which is the secrecy of the ballot.”
He explained the process that protects the elector’s secrecy even after he or she has returned from the voting booth and the portion of the ballot containing the ballot number is removed before the ballot is cast.
“The secrecy of your vote is guaranteed. This is because the ballot number on the counterfoil and stub of the ballot book is not printed on your marked ballot paper which the Presiding Officer will place in the ballot box. Therefore, there is no reference on the ballot paper to the voter. That means no one can know who you vote for.”
Section 34 of the House of Assembly (Elections) Act makes this process clear.
It says: 34. General mode of taking ballot.
- Each elector shall receive from the presiding officer a ballot paper on which such officer has previously put his initials so placed as indicated on Form 18 that when the ballot paper is folded they can be seen without opening it, and on the counterfoil of which he has placed the elector’s electoral registration number entered in the poll book opposite the name of the elector.
- The presiding officer shall instruct the elector how to make his mark, and shall properly fold the elector’s ballot, directing him to return it, when marked, folded as shown, but without inquiring or seeing for whom the electors intends to vote, except when the elector is unable to vote in the manner prescribed by this Act on account of blindness or other physical incapacity.
- The elector on receiving the ballot papers shall forthwith enter one of the polling compartments and there mark his ballot paper by marking with a black lead pencil and not otherwise a cross within the space containing the name of the candidate for whom he intends to vote, and he shall then fold the ballot paper as directed so that the initials and the numbers on the counterfoil can be seen without opening it, and hand the paper to the presiding officer who shall, without unfolding it, ascertain by examination of the initials and numbers appearing thereon that is the same paper as that delivered to the elector and if the same he shall forthwith in full view of the voter and all the other present remove the counterfoil and deposit the ballot paper in the ballot box.
The Electoral Office encourages all registered electors to cast their ballot on election day, as is their right.
This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2022/12/05/dominicans-are-voting-in-a-historic-election-tomorrow. © 2022 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.
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