Nominations Day set, March 24th the deadline for submission of symbols

Voters up to February 19, 2023 at Offices of Assistant Electoral Registrars located in each of the 80 Local Authority Areas.

Last month, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall wrote the Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh appointing June 12, 2023, as the date for the conduct of the elections. That date was chosen on the basis of the work plan that was submitted by GECOM to the minister.

Query the Preliminary Voters’ List

Registered voters who are eligible to cast their ballot at the upcoming June 12, 2023 are encouraged to verify their registration by checking the Preliminary Voters List (PVL).

Guyanese can check the PVL by reviewing the document posted at key locations, including GECOM’s Registration Offices across the country or by visiting GECOM’s website at https://gecom.org.gy/home/ plv2023. Via the website, Guyanese can enter their name and date of birth to verify their registration or do by entering their national identification card number.

GECOM has said, “Provide your 9-digit ID number or Particulars to query the Preliminary List of Voters used for Claims and Objections 2023 in preparation for Local Government Elections 2023.”

The Commission, in a notice posted on its website, said, “Please note that this tool will only return results if the registrant is qualified to vote for Local Government Elections 2023. It will not return a result for any registrant who may be under 18 years of age by May 22, 2023 or registered in a Non-Local Authority Area.”

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has appointed April 17 as Nominations Day in preparation for the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE), which are scheduled for June 12, 2023.

The published notice, signed by Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud, stated that: “A list of candidates submitted by any Political Party, Voluntary Group or Individual Nomination Day must be accompanied by the precandidate on approved symbol, as this is required for the publication of the list in accordance with section 51 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, without which the Political Party, Voluntary Group or In dividual Candidate would be unable to contest the Local Government Elections.”

Submission Of Symbols

The Chief Elections Officer also issued a notice to inform all political parties, voluntary groups and individuals who are desirous of contesting the upcoming local government polls that the process to submit their applications for approval of their symbols has been further extended to Friday, March 24, 2023.

This exercise was schedule to be wrapped up on March 1, 2023.

“Political Parties, Voluntary Groups and Individuals who have already applied for symbols for the upcoming Local Government Elections, and who would have already submitted applications for the approval of symbols, need not reapply,” the notice explained.

Section 48(1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03, provides that those contesting the elections be required to submit a symbol for approval by the Elections Commission no later than 21 days before Nomination Day.

Persons are asked to submit their applications via mail or email to the Chairman. Those in outlying Local Authority Areas (LAAs) may submit their symbols to the

GECOM Registration Office in their area. “Political Parties, Voluntary Groups and Individuals in outlying Local Authority Areas (LAAs) may submit their symbol to GECOM’s Registration Office in their area,” GECOM said.

In February, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall set Monday, June 12, 2023 as the date for the holding of the much-anticipated and long-overdue LGE in Guyana. Section 35 (1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03, empowers the Local Government Minister to appoint a day for the elections. LGE, which are constitutionally due every two years, was last held in 2018. At the November 2018 local government polls, the then PPP/C Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). This had followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, during which the PPP/C also claimed the majority of the LAAs.