High Court Denies UPP’s Alister Thomas Access to 2023 Voter Picture List

The High Court has issued a ruling unfavorable to Alister Thomas of the UPP regarding his request for access to the 2023 voter image list.

Justice Jan Drysdale has concluded that privacy issues, particularly the potential for identity theft and harassment, outweigh the need for public access.

This case was brought forth under the Freedom of Information Act.

Thomas initiated legal action against ABEC for refusing his request for a copy of the 2023 photographic voter list, which he intended to compare with the non-photographic version.

Both the former Supervisor of Elections, Dame Lorna Simon, and the current Supervisor, Ian Hughes, denied him access to this list.

During the legal proceedings, Attorney Leon Chaku Symister who represented Thomas, contended that there was no legal justification for denying his client a clean version of the list.

He argued that ABEC’s refusal to provide the information was undermining the opportunity to foster public trust. He also suggested that the court permit ABEC to release a version of the list with sensitive information redacted.

In response, ABEC’s attorney, Patricia Forde, asserted that the photographic list contains personal data, including requests for voting assistance, which could result in “harm and injury” if made public.

She highlighted that the list was intended solely for use by election officials on polling day, in accordance with commission regulations established in 2011.