Increase in voter turnout among ranks of Disciplined Services

Last Monday’s (June 5, 2023) vote by ranks of the Disciplined Services saw a 47.48 per cent voter turnout, according to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

A total of 9,093 ranks were registered to vote in the 2023 Local Government Elections (LGE). Of the 9,093 ranks registered to vote:

• 2,684 are members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) – of which 1,361 voted (50.7 per cent)

• 5,979 are members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) – of which 2,717 voted (45.4 per cent); and

• 430 are members of the Guyana Prison Services – of which 239 voted (55.5 per cent).

A total of 4,317 of the hood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

In each of the areas, the vote at Local Government Elections is divided into two sections – the Proportional Representation vote and the Constituency vote.

The Proportional Representation system would have seen a voter supporting a political party or independent group. Based on the Proportional Representation, the allocation of seats corresponds closely with the proportion of the total votes cast for each party.

The Constituency system would have seen a voter supporting a particular person/ candidate either representing a political party or a group or running as an independent. Based on the constituency vote, the candidate with the most votes is elected to sever the constituency they campaigned in.

RESULTS: MUNICIPALITIES

Of the 10 municipalities, the PPP/C won outright in six areas:

1. Municipality of Mabaruma (Region 1)

2. Municipality of Anna Regina (Region 2)

3. Municipality of Rose Hall (Region 6)

4. Municipality of Corriverton (Region 6)

5. Municipality of Bartica (Region 7)

6. Municipality of Lethem (Region 9)

In the seventh area, the Municipality of Mahdia, the PPP/C and APNU are tied, with the PPP/C having the plurality of votes.

In Georgetown (Region 4), the PPP/C almost doubled its votes, compared to the 2018 Local Government Elections and picked up a total of 11 seats on the City Council. APNU failed to maintain its hold on the Council and won 15 seats on the City Council, less than it had in 2018.

In the Municipality Of New Amsterdam (Region 6), the APNU won 82 more votes compared to 2018, while the PPP/C increased its votes from 2018 by 1,242 votes. The APNU has four seats and the PPP/C has three seats.

Further in the Municipality of Linden (Region 10), the PPP saw a major increase in its votes – moving from 402 in 2018 to 2,464 at the 2023 Local Government Elections. The APNU has six seats and the PPP/C has two seats.

RESULTS: NEIGHBOURHOOD DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL

The PPP/C secured wins in 59 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.

“The pattern held in all the areas, increases in votes for the PPP, massive decreases in votes, compared to 2018, for the APNU,” Jagdeo said.

The PPP/C’s wins in the seven Municipalities and 59 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, according to the PPP General Secretary, is a result of hard work. “The APNU wants to hide the true picture from the people of Guyana…no amount of spin will change the fact,” Jagdeo declared.

9,093 ranks voted at 82 polling places countrywide.

INCREASED TURNOUT

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud, explained that there was a single incident where a ballot was given to someone in error and said the affected person was allowed to vote on Monday (June 12, 2023).

“As far as I am aware, every single [person] who turned up to vote was allowed to vote, provided their names are on the list for that particular polling station,” he explained.

Persaud also reported an increase in the number of members of the disciplined services who voted at this year’s Local Government Elections when compared to the last election in 2018.

At the 2018 Local Government Elections, a total of 3,143 ranks of 7,918 ranks registered to vote, cast their ballots – a total of 39.7 per cent.

Previously, at the 2016 Local Government Elections, a total of 3,879 ranks of 6,978 ranks registered to vote, cast their ballots – a total of 55.6 per cent.

The votes of the ranks of the Disciplined Services will be mixed in with the civilian votes on June 12, 2023 and counted then. The Disciplined Services personnel voted ahead of civilians who voted on Monday (June 12, 2023). That is because police, soldiers and prison service personnel are required to provide security and peacekeeping duties on Election Day.