BASSETERRE, St. Kitts- SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS Raphael Archibald has publicly stated that people registered in December 2012 and January 2013 are not qualified to vote for the Candidate of their choice in tomorrow’s (Jan. 22) Nevis Local Elections.
In an announcement issued today (Jan. 21), Archibald disclosed that the register of voters for this Election will be the persons who have duly registered by November, 30, 2012.
“This is accordance with the National Assembly Act Section 48 (2), which states as follows: ‘Whenever a Writ is issued between the publications of the last Revised Monthly List and any other Revised Monthly List, the last revised monthly list shall be used for the purposes of the conduct of the poll.’
“The Lists are posted at conspicuous places in the Electoral Districts or can be checked at the Electoral Office in Nevis.”
Archibald said that the Writ of Elections of the Governor-General was issued on January5, 2013. Therefore, he added, the last Revised List before that date was the list which became in effect on November 30, 2012.
“Please note that persons who registered in December and January are not eligible to vote,” Archibald warned.
He informed that voters are required to examine the Registrar of Voters to ensure their names are listed for going to the polls.
The Election Supervisor explained that there are 32 polling stations to accommodate persons in the five electoral districts, and that they were posted at the Electoral Office in Nevis and other conspicuous places in each of the electoral district.
“Check to find out where your polling station will be,” Archibald advised.
He stated that the Presiding Officers would be responsible for the management and conduct of the poll as well as the maintenance of order at each polling station, adding that the police were asked to assist.
He also informed that ballots were being printed at the Government Printery under the strict supervision of the police and candidates have been requested to appoint agents to witness whatever goes on in the polling station, as well as to witness the count.
He further informed that the Presiding Officers would receive sealed envelopes with the ballots, which would be displayed on the morning of polling day before the poll begins.
The ballots boxes, he stated, would be displayed, inspected and locked before ballots are cast and entered therein.
Archibald said that at the close of the poll, ballot boxes would be sealed in the presence of agents and the police and then transported to the place of counting in the company of the police and the agents.
“The polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22, 2013. Please be assured that security will be maintained at all times and at all stages. No other person but the voter will be able to ascertain the candidate for whom the vote has been cast. The process of casting your vote is completely secret,” he advised.
The Election Supervisor then shared some ‘extremely important” information relating to the voting process.
“Each voter will vote only at one polling station and for only one candidate. Before delivering a ballot paper to a voter who has one or both hands, the Presiding Officer will, in the presence of the Poll Clerk and the agents of the candidate, inspect the hands of the voter to ensure that there does not appear on the appropriate digits of his hands any mark of electoral ink.
“If there is such mark, the Presiding Officer will not deliver a ballot paper to the voter. The voter will go into a compartment and, using the pencil provided in the compartment, place an X on the right hand side opposite the name of the candidate for whom he or she is voting.
“The X must be made with the pencil provided. The voter shall then fold the ballot paper so that the initials of the Presiding Officer and the number on the counterfoil can be detached without opening the ballot paper.
“He shall then return the ballot paper to the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer will then satisfy him or herself that there does not appear upon the appropriate or other digit of the hand of the voter, any substance, which, in his opinion is likely to prevent electoral ink from staining his finger, and will require the voter to immerse such digits in the electoral ink.
“If the voter refuses to immerse the said digit in the electoral ink, the Presiding Officer will destroy the ballot paper.
“After the voter has immerses the said digit in the electoral ink, the presiding officer will then, in full view of those present including the voter, remove the counterfoil and place the ballot paper in the box. The voter shall then forthwith quit the polling station.”
Archibald stated that the ballots would be counted by the Returning Officers at the Charlestown Magistrate Court, Bath Community Centre, Gingerland Police Station, Newcastle Police Station and Cotton Ground Police Station.
He noted that the counting of ballots is expected to start at 8:00 p.m. on polling day and the results would be carried live on ZIZ Radio and Von Radio, simultaneously, and another other stations that wish to do so as public service.
In his address, also, Archibald encouraged the general public “to become aware of the notices concerning direction of the guidance of voters and electoral offences”.
