Friday, March 29, 2024

Key points from the EBC media conference

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Officials from the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) addressed the media on January 1, 2022.

Chief Electoral Officer Angela Taylor

  • Elections preparations are on point.
  • We started preparing two years after the last one.
  • Election clerks and officers have been published and they are being trained today.
  • We are ready for Nomination Day.
  • Bags are being packed with all of the information the candidates will need.
  • The list of nomination centres has also been published.
  • The only difference between this and others is that we are in a COVID-19 situation and have taken measures to ensure we are in compliance with the protocols.
  • The COVID Monitoring Unit has produced a document for every interaction during the election.
  • A separate team has been set up for COVID matters to take temperatures, sanitise hands, sanitise the polling booths after voting and police the lines.
  • We have made every provision to ensure the COVID-19 protocols are complied with.
  • There will be 541 polling stations.
  • We encourage people to use lunch hours, so there is more voting during the day. This would reduce the numbers in the morning and the evening.
  • Those who don’t have to work are being encouraged to come out during the day and leave the evening and morning periods for those who are going to work.
  • Special provisions will be put in place for the elderly.
  • If you are in the line by 6 p.m. you will be allowed to vote.
  • The length of time it takes to vote will determine the time that election results are given.

 

Ronald Chapman, head of the COVID Monitoring Unit.

  • People in home isolation are asked to stay at home.
  • Those at Harrison Point facility or any facility are required to stay there.
  • We understand that voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, but those persons are still highly infectious.
  • We are asking persons if they are feeling ill to stay at home.
  • If you are COVID-19 positive you will not be allowed to vote in this election.
  • Those who may not recognise they are ill or may be asymptomatic, there are protocols in place at the polling stations.
  • The isolation facilities are an extension of hospitals and people in hospital are not allowed to vote.
  • If you are in the line and present with symptoms, elevated temperature etc., you won’t be turned away from voting.
  • There won’t be any testing for COVID at the polling stations.
  • There will be physical distancing and temperature will be taken inside the station.
  • If the temperature is elevated, they will still be allowed to vote.
  • Once that person has voted, the area will be sanitised.
  • Officials in the polling station will be wearing personal protective equipment.
  • There are many people in Barbados who do not know they have COVID and go out in public, we stand behind them in lines. The procedure is the same.
  • The process will reduce risk, but allow people to vote.

 

Hal Gollop, lawyer and member of the EBC board

  • Our legislation does not contemplate less than in-person voting.
  • We have to take the decision that maintains the integrity of elections and reduce fraud.
  • We should refrain from making a statement on this before the legal advisor to the commission gives an opinion.

Leslie Haynes QC, chairman EBC

  • We are not saying that the law says people with COVID can’t vote.
  • We are asking people not to come out to vote for the benefit of the many.
  • There is no decree saying they cannot vote.
  • The candidate list has always been published.
  • It was previously published in the media, in the law and public libraries at the EBC and even in rum shops.
  • The amendment to the Representation of the People Act means it must be published electronically.
  • We have the balance the need to have a clean electoral list against certain things.
  • You come down in favour of the option that reduces the mischief.
  • The EBC is asking employers to give people extra time to vote.

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