Georgetown, Guyana – In a recent letter published on Facebook, GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander emphatically called for the expedited implementation of biometric identification measures to guarantee free and fair elections. Alexander’s letter, dated March 17, 2024, emphasizes the unconditional need for biometrics to prevent fraudulent voting. The GECOM Commissioner revealed that:
- The current voter list exceeds the resident voting population by 126,000.
- Thousands of Guyanese listed on the voter list are confirmed to have died overseas.
- There are no mechanisms in place to remove the names of deceased persons from the voter list.
- The use of biometrics at polling stations is an effective method to prevent fraudulent voting on behalf of absentee electors and deceased persons.
He highlighted responses from PPP officials, including Bharrat Jagdeo and Clement Rohee, which, while acknowledging the seriousness of the issue, failed to offer any concrete commitment to finding solutions. He stated that “…while GECOM has discussed the potential use of biometrics…”, there have been stalling tactics with calls for feasibility studies. Alexander called upon GECOM to fast-track the implementation of biometric verification at polling places. He suggests that the use of biometrics should be a prerequisite for the conduct of any future elections in Guyana.
Alexander’s letter underscores the urgency of addressing the issues of fraudulent voting to ensure free and fair elections. During the Recount of the 2020 Elections, massive discrepancies were uncovered, confirming organized multiple voting by the PPP. This has caused wide sections of the population to consider the PPP government illegal. It now appears that the PPP is doubling down on efforts to repeat the rigging perpetrated during the 2020 elections. The ball rests in the court of GECOM to heed Alexander’s call and take decisive steps towards implementing biometric verification at polling places. This alarm sounded by Commissioner Alexander should cause international stakeholders to demand that the PPP take urgent steps to ensure free and fair elections.