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‘Symbols on ballot papers are not as clear as last elections’- Bishop Cline

- urges voters to be mindful
A sample ballot paper for the Sixth District. There have been concerns about the ballot paper, including that the symbols and colours are not clear and that the space for putting the X is too small. Photo: Team of Reporters
Voters at the Sea Cows Bay Polling Station on Advance Polling Day on Thursday, April 20, 2023. Photo: Team of Reporters
Voters at the Sea Cows Bay Polling Station on Advance Polling Day on Thursday, April 20, 2023. Photo: Team of Reporters
Mr John I. Cline alongside Angelle A. Cameron on the My BVI show live-streamed on Facebook on April 20, 2023. Photo: Facebook
Mr John I. Cline alongside Angelle A. Cameron on the My BVI show live-streamed on Facebook on April 20, 2023. Photo: Facebook
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- Outspoken clergyman Bishop John I. Cline has urged residents voting in this year’s elections in the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) to be mindful while casting their ballots, noting that the symbols on the ballot papers are unclear.

Mr Cline made the claim while speaking on the ‘My BVI’ show, alongside Angelle A. Cameron, live-streamed on Facebook on April 20, 2023.

Look for names instead of party symbols- Bishop Cline

During the show, Mr Cline, who said he took an elderly cousin to the polls to vote on Advance Polling Day on Thursday, April 20, 2023, pointed to a number of issues with the ballot paper, such as symbols having faded colours.

As such, he urged voters to look for the names of the Candidates they are voting for instead of the Party symbols. 

“My advice, would be to the voters, especially those who may have a little tendency to be confused, put the name of the person that you are voting for- make sure you have the name and when you go in, instead of looking for a symbol because the symbols are not as clear as the last time. Instead of looking for the symbol look for the name. They’re not as bright and colourful…they’re not very pronounced,” Mr Cline stated.

He emphasised that the process can expedited very quickly if voters bare the names of the Candidates they wish to vote for in mind.

Ballot can be spoilt easily- Cameron

Cameron also noted that she too had the opportunity to view a sample ballot and observed that the area for submission this time around is extremely small, and can easily result in a spoiled ballot.

“I was having a conversation with some elderly people and it was a real concern,” Cameron stated.

This was agreed upon by Mr Cline.

“If I wasn’t with my cousin whose hand is not very steady, that would’ve been a spoiled ballot easy,” he said.

“With the testers that I was able to see over the weekend, it was difficult. I’m surprised that the actual ballots pronunciation of the symbols isn’t clear, because on the sample ballot it is.

“But, what was confusing a lot of people as well on that sample ballot, Bishop, was the names; because for the first time in probably a very long time or this may be historic…the At Large pool is very large, huge, and it runs down a massive length of paper,” Cameron said.

She added that another thing that some may find confusing is the fact that the listings contain the full legal names of Candidates which some may not be familiar with.

24 Responses to “‘Symbols on ballot papers are not as clear as last elections’- Bishop Cline ”

  • Hmmmm (21/04/2023, 09:41) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is a fact but this is just more game playing again in an organized fashion.
  • Voted (21/04/2023, 09:44) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    It is definitely not as clear as the last time. I voted in the advance Poll yesterday and I did not even realise that the district candidates were on the same form as the AtLarge candidates. I think it was 2 separate ballot papers in 2019. I must say, however, that it is more efficient to have just 1 ballot paper as opposed to 2
    • Sara (21/04/2023, 11:26) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      in 2019, it was one ballot paper. The candidates are the ones who are saying we have two ballots
  • NezRez (21/04/2023, 09:53) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Having nicknames in the BVI to me has always been a problem in recognizing the person's birth name. When entering any legal arena, all persons should always use their birth name and drop that elementary school days mentality. Having said this, since it is a custom here, all nicknames should be in parenthesis following the birth name until the system is changed from now on. I too did think the circles that you have to fill in were very small and one error would mess up the entire ballot. Whoever is in charge of designing these ballots should have them looked over for approval before presenting them to us voters.
  • SYDNEY (21/04/2023, 10:01) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    I WAS SAYING THE SAME THING THAT BALLOT NEEDS BE MORE CLEARER ESPECIALLY WHERE YOU PUT YOUR X ITS IT'S TO SMALL.
    • At SYDNEY (21/04/2023, 16:03) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      You don't put an X in the circle, you were supposed to fill in the entire small circle.
      • Elections Officer (21/04/2023, 23:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        You can either mark an x in the oval or shade the oval. The machine will read both
  • 2023 (21/04/2023, 10:06) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    all some of us do is find fault and what is the solution: what is fascinating over the past 30 days some of us have been heavily bombarded by people seeking votes: almost 99% sure you will never hear from the majority of them until the other election and that is so shameful

  • smh (21/04/2023, 10:08) Like (7) Dislike (18) Reply
    I'm sure the Bishop made it his duty to suddenly care about his elderly cousin on Advance Polling Day and making himself present knowing fully well he wants people to vote for his cousin Ronnie and his nephew Mitch. Oh, a vote for them too is a vote for his other cousin Claude...Are we doomed in this BVI?
  • Comment (21/04/2023, 10:14) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    ‘Symbols on ballot papers are not as clear as last elections’ Art imitating Life!
  • Just saying (21/04/2023, 10:17) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    Highly politicised people like Cline should not be allowed to assist anybody to vote
  • Interested (21/04/2023, 10:33) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    The elections office has failed in this area.Whereas it is more convenient to have one ballot paper,The at large side is not very clear.One has to carefully scrutinize the ballot before placing the vote.It slows down the process.If it was so cumbersome during the advance poling ,heaven help us on Monday.I can see many spoiled ballots
  • 2023 (21/04/2023, 10:44) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    my goodness we have far more people running this time around than in previous years: the folks responsible for ensuring election day goes smoothly had less 30 days ensuring that all goes well(far more names & symbols on the ballots

    it is about time there is a given day for voting not a political party or a premier alone knows when the entire population will vote

    rather than continue pulling down our own people lets throw ideas into the hat and demand those we put into administrative office follow our desires





  • vi (21/04/2023, 13:34) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I can't see well so anyone got my votes God bless you.
  • ........ (21/04/2023, 15:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just give a vote to no.2 on the at large section.
  • Reading Is Fundamental (21/04/2023, 16:13) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now.. WHERE on that ballot sheet say anything about marking an X?!
  • voter (21/04/2023, 18:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thanks for the info, I will make sure to go to the polling station with my glasses .
  • Thing to talk (21/04/2023, 18:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    People are also complaining about the legal names of the candidates and that they may not be familiar with it? OH wellll next time, can we put only nicknames or street-names so that the whole thing can be a complete circus. Let us educate ourselves accordingly :)
  • Recount (21/04/2023, 20:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I would ask for a recount if I was any candidates running in this Election. The wholes are too small and chances of errors are very high likely.
  • Native Tongue (21/04/2023, 23:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not as clear but are the same. What's the dam proboem?
  • Recount (24/04/2023, 06:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I see a recount being ask since the circles are too small and persons might shade the entire box or what about half shades. How will the ballot machine read these votes? Would these votes be accepted if the machine accepts them. Only a manual count will confirm the votes. I will recount and see if the ballot machine read the votes correctly.


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