UPDATE: Elections Supervisor dismisses Advance Polling concerns
Penn was speaking at a press conference held at the Government Administration Complex. The media briefing had been postponed twice before yesterday.
One & two issues
“We had one and two issues. I won’t call them issues but we had one and two complaints from some candidates,” she said.
“One of the issues is that they are saying that they were not allowed to sign on the packages of ballots. And in that instance, the particular polling districts that they were referring to they did in fact sign off on the ballots in the Seventh Districts. On the Eighth District they did not sign off because in fact the law does not specify that the candidates are supposed to sign off but we allowed then to sign off as a matter of courtesy,” she said.
Signed, sealed…scotch taped
She noted that all of the candidates and agents were at the polling stations when the polling closed. “The ballots were supposed to have been put in an envelope. This was not done by all nine persons. But despite this was not done the candidates and agents were there when the ballot boxes themselves were sealed and signed,” she said.
“They knew how many ballots were inside because the Presiding Officer had to report how many votes were cast in that particular district, so they knew,” she said.
She explained that when they came to the Elections Office she had to ensure that they are put into envelopes. “I didn’t physically put them in an envelope…the Returning Officer, myself and in the presence of a police officer, this was done. It was signed by the Returning Officer. It was signed by myself. It was signed by the police officer. It was sealed by a seal from the Elections Office, along with the scotch tape that was put on it,” said Penn.
Nothing done differently this time around
She said that there was nothing done differently to what had been done before. She also dismissed that there were attempts to influence persons in the polling places contrary to electoral law. She also dismissed reports that envelopes arrived at the Elections Office opened.
Penn addressed an issue regarding the First District, saying that the polling station there ran out of Form No. 24 and ballot papers that had been reported. “And I personally took forms after I got the call,” she said.
R. Danica Penn calls for investigation
Regarding complaints made by Independent At Large candidate R. Dancia Penn in a press release earlier today, Mrs Penn said that she has not seen that press release and therefore cannot comment on it. The release said that there should be an investigation.
An excerpt of the release reads thus:
“Late last night I learned of allegations and concerns expressed in relation to the conduct of the Advance Poll held yesterday June 5th.
“These concerns are about the sealing of envelopes at some polling stations, the handling of the ballot papers, as well as the conduct of certain candidates at polling stations and the disparity of treatment of candidates at different Polling Stations. I myself observed what appeared to be active campaigning by a candidate at a particular Polling Station. This of course is against the law which clearly states how candidates should behave at Polling Stations.
“All the allegations are extremely serious and should be investigated at the highest levels immediately. If true, the alleged conduct would be serious breaches of the Elections Act and of our Constitution and should be addressed immediately. These are issues with which I am very familiar having been responsible for the drafting of our principal Election Act in 1994.”
We’re ready for Monday
Asked whether the Elections Office is set and ready for Monday June 8, 2015, Mrs Juliette Penn said that they were ready.
“I just want the general public to come out and vote on Monday as it is their right. It will be in the best interest of everyone,” Penn said. She reminded persons that use of phones is prohibited and encouraged persons to bring photo ID.
However, she made it clear that persons will not be stopped from voting if they don’t have ID cards.
She said too that the Elections Office will be taking its time to tabulate and release the results lest they have to issue results and then pull them back.
See below charts for ballots cast at the 2015 Advance Polls & a comparison to 2011:
TERRITORIAL BALLOTS CAST (2015)
|
District |
Polling Station |
No. of Reg’d Voters |
TOTAL |
No. of Ballots Cast at Advance Poll (TERRITORIAL) |
% of Ballots Cast |
Total Territorial Ballots Cast by District |
|
First |
Zion Hill |
934 |
1479 |
73 |
7.8 |
120 |
|
Carrot Bay |
545 |
47 |
8.2 |
|||
|
Second |
Jost Van Dyke |
147 |
1387 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
|
Cane Garden Bay |
512 |
9 |
1.76 |
|||
|
Brewers Bay |
247 |
6 |
2.43 |
|||
|
Meyers |
481 |
20 |
4.16 |
|||
|
Third |
Sea Cows Bay |
1620 |
1620 |
130 |
8.02 |
130 |
|
Fourth |
Road Town |
1355 |
1358 |
134 |
9.89 |
134 |
|
Salt Island |
3 |
O |
0 |
|||
|
Fifth |
Huntums Ghut |
1027 |
1607 |
63 |
6.13 |
83 |
|
Long Trench |
580 |
20 |
3.45 |
|||
|
Sixth |
Baughers Bay |
1357 |
1641 |
77 |
5.67 |
96 |
|
Belle Vue |
284 |
19 |
6.69 |
|||
|
Seventh |
Long Look |
1272 |
1272 |
73 |
5.74 |
73 |
|
Eighth |
Hope Estate |
114 |
1587 |
4 |
3.51 |
87 |
|
East End |
1473 |
83 |
5.63 |
|||
|
Ninth |
The Valley |
1167 |
1634 |
108 |
9.25 |
126 |
|
North Sound |
327 |
18 |
5.50 |
|||
|
Anegada |
140 |
2 |
1.43 |
|||
|
TOTAL |
|
13585 |
13585 |
886 |
|
886 |
DISTRICT BALLOTS CAST (2015)
|
District |
Polling Station |
No. of Reg’d Voters |
TOTAL |
No. of Ballots Cast at Advance Poll (LOCAL) |
% of Ballots Cast |
Total Ballots Cast by District |
|
First |
Zion Hill |
934 |
1479 |
73 |
7.8 |
120 |
|
Carrot Bay |
545 |
47 |
8.2 |
|||
|
Second |
Jost Van Dyke |
147 |
1387 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
|
Cane Garden Bay |
512 |
9 |
1.76 |
|||
|
Brewers Bay |
247 |
6 |
2.43 |
|||
|
Meyers |
481 |
20 |
4.16 |
|||
|
Third |
Sea Cows Bay |
1620 |
1620 |
130 |
8.02 |
130 |
|
Fourth |
Road Town |
1355 |
1358 |
134 |
9.89 |
134 |
|
Salt Island |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|||
|
Fifth |
Huntums Ghut |
1027 |
1607 |
63 |
6.13 |
83 |
|
Long Trench |
580 |
20 |
3.45 |
|||
|
Sixth |
Baughers Bay |
1357 |
1641 |
77 |
5.67 |
96 |
|
Belle Vue |
284 |
19 |
6.69 |
|||
|
Seventh |
Long Look |
1272 |
1272 |
73 |
5.74 |
73 |
|
Eighth |
Hope Estate |
114 |
1587 |
4 |
3.51 |
87 |
|
East End |
1473 |
83 |
5.63 |
|||
|
Ninth |
The Valley |
1167 |
1634 |
108 |
9.25 |
126 |
|
North Sound |
327 |
8 |
5.50 |
|||
|
Anegada |
140 |
2 |
1.43 |
|||
|
TOTAL |
|
13585 |
13585 |
886 |
|
886 |
2011 & 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS
ADVANCE POLL – DISTRICT BALLOTS CAST
|
District |
Polling Divisions |
Ballots Cast 2011 (LOCAL) |
Ballots Cast 2015 (LOCAL) |
Increased by |
Decreased by |
|
First |
Zion Hill |
62 |
73 |
11 |
|
|
Carrot Bay |
40 |
47 |
4 |
|
|
|
Second |
Jost Van Dyke |
1 |
0 |
|
1 |
|
Cane Garden Bay |
13 |
9 |
|
4 |
|
|
Brewers Bay |
11 |
6 |
|
5 |
|
|
Meyers |
12 |
20 |
8 |
|
|
|
Third |
Sea Cows Bay |
81 |
130 |
49 |
|
|
Fourth |
Road Town |
98 |
134 |
36 |
|
|
Salt Island |
0 |
0 |
No change |
||
|
Fifth |
Huntums Ghut |
50 |
63 |
13 |
|
|
Long Trench |
8 |
20 |
12 |
|
|
|
Sixth |
Baughers Bay |
61 |
77 |
16 |
|
|
Belle Vue |
14 |
19 |
5 |
|
|
|
Seventh |
Long Look |
50 |
73 |
23 |
|
|
Eighth |
Hope Estate |
2 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
East End |
68 |
83 |
15 |
|
|
|
Ninth |
The Valley |
67 |
108 |
41 |
|
|
North Sound |
14 |
18 |
4 |
|
|
|
Anegada |
2 |
2 |
No Change |
||
|
TOTAL |
|
654 |
886 |
232 |
|
2011 & 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS
ADVANCE POLL – TERRITORIAL BALLOTS CAST
|
District |
Polling Divisions |
Ballots Cast 2011 (TERRITORIAL) |
Ballots Cast 2015 (TERRITORIAL) |
Increased by |
Decreased by |
|
First |
Zion Hill |
62 |
73 |
11 |
|
|
Carrot Bay |
40 |
47 |
4 |
|
|
|
Second |
Jost Van Dyke |
1 |
0 |
|
1 |
|
Cane Garden Bay |
13 |
9 |
|
4 |
|
|
Brewers Bay |
11 |
6 |
|
5 |
|
|
Meyers |
12 |
20 |
8 |
|
|
|
Third |
Sea Cows Bay |
81 |
130 |
49 |
|
|
Fourth |
Road Town |
98 |
134 |
36 |
|
|
Salt Island |
0 |
0 |
No change |
||
|
Fifth |
Huntums Ghut |
50 |
63 |
13 |
|
|
Long Trench |
8 |
20 |
12 |
|
|
|
Sixth |
Baughers Bay |
61 |
77 |
16 |
|
|
Belle Vue |
14 |
19 |
5 |
|
|
|
Seventh |
Long Look |
49 |
73 |
23 |
|
|
Eighth |
Hope Estate |
2 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
East End |
68 |
83 |
15 |
|
|
|
Ninth |
The Valley |
67 |
108 |
41 |
|
|
North Sound |
14 |
18 |
4 |
|
|
|
Anegada |
2 |
2 |
No Change |
||
|
TOTAL |
|
653 |
886 |
233 |
|
See previous story published June 5, 2015
PEP, NDP also express Advance Polling concerns
This news site has learnt that, in addition to the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) registering their concerns regarding issues that could lead to irregularities during today’s June 5, 2015, Advance Polling, agents and members of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the People’s Empowerment Party also visited the Office of the Elections Supervisor with their concerns.
Speaking to this news site this evening, President of the PEP Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru confirmed that his party’s personnel visited the Office of the Elections Supervisor with a view to getting the matters straightened out.
"There were some irregularities that concerned some members of our party and on which we need clarity,” Wheatley said, adding that details were still sketchy."
This news site was told that members of the National Democratic Party were also down at the Office of the Elections Supervisor, however, efforts to reach a spokesperson from the party to confirm these reports proved futile.
See previous article published June 5, 2015
'Poor' sealing of ballots raises concerns
- Virgin Islands Party lodges complaint with Supervisor of Elections
Members of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) have expressed concern regarding the sealing of envelopes containing ballots from the various polling stations following the close of Advance Polling today, June 5, 2015.
Several candidates, according to information reaching Virgin Islands News Online, have lodged a complaint to the Office of the Elections Supervisor regarding their discomfort over the issue.
According to President of the VIP, Carvin Malone the VIP agents are not satisfied with the manner in which the envelopes containing ballots were sealed, especially that the permanent seal was allegedly done with scotch tape "and the agents were saying that they were not allowed to sign on the seal to ensure that it is not lifted. As a result of that they are very much not in favour of the way in which this process took place."
Mr Malone further said concerns were previously raised about envelopes containing ballots being held at the Office of the Elections Supervisor. He said while the party is not accusing anyone of anything there remains a possibility that envelopes containing ballots could be tampered with.
"It has always been an area of concern," Mr Malone stated.
When this news site visited the Elections Office this afternoon, June 5, 2015 a number of candidates were there and had just come out of a meeting with staff of the Elections Office as well as Supervisor of Elections, Juliette Penn.
Vice-President of the VIP, Lemuel 'Chi Chi' Smith told this news site that he could not officially give a comment as the matter was being addressed by the Elections Office.
The Supervisor of Elections had initially scheduled a press conference for 4:15pm at the Office of the Elections Supervisor to update the press on Advance Polling Day matters today, however, that press briefing was subsequently pushed back to 7:30pm.
Government Information Service (GIS) Information Officer Colene A. Penn has since said the media briefing will be held at 2pm tomorrow, June 6, 2015.
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73 Responses to “UPDATE: Elections Supervisor dismisses Advance Polling concerns”
This is a simple matter Supervisor of Election. Let the agents sign the envelop across the seal. If they were not so dishonest this would not have come to this. You still register people in districts that they do not live in. We will call them out as they reach to vote come Monday.
The is not about eligible voters voting. It is about not following strictly the Election Law.
The s****** is a big supporter of NDP. should let them sign on the envelopes. Another concern, and yes they are still registering people in more than one districts one of myfriend he registered in the 8 & 5 anoher NDP supporter come Monday I will fix him. shame on this country. Remember what happen to the supervisor of of election in St. Kitts for dishonesty (gone Jail)
...trying to thief the elections?
..... is an NDP Voter, so we can't expect better. But God don't sleep nor slumber.
You're more level headed than this don't be fool. It does not matter which party doing this foolishness to you. I beg you to stop and think don't get carried away.
Your future is at stak
This is a damn shame. Where are the election observers? Why do these people continue to come to our island and waste our time? Get off your $%^ on the beach drinking beers and do your job! For "£$% sake. Seriously?
I think that a count should have been done at the polling stations and each election person at the stations signed off the sealed envelopes. That way everyone agrees. No room for errors.
I pray that God the father will give us Faith instead of unbelief, courage instead of fear, love instead of hate, peace instead of quarrels and war. We deserve nothing but punishment for our sins.God sees and God knows. NDP want to win so bad, but the bottom line is God in control and he will turn this election around like what happen in St.Kitts.
There was a time when sealing wax was used. It was more tamper proof, especially if there were special marks that could authenticate that the package's seal was not disturbed.
What happened over the years?
Election fraud?! And where the hell are the Observers????!
This election process stinks…when one cast their vote, it should be sealed and then place in the ballot box which SHOULD BE UNDER LOCK AND KEYS..by the voter.. now day make sense, HOW CAN ONE VOTE WITHOUT A REGISTERERD ID…only in the bvi, where all they do is IN A BACKWARD MOTION…with all new technology in place, this system raises question..I ALWAYS SAID YOU CAN’T PUT RAT TO GUARD CHEESE….
This article leaves much room for concern. Last election at least 2 ballot boxes allegedly went missing. Now envelopes being sealed with mere scotch tape and no signature. This is crazy and suspicious. Did the Supivisor think that something like this would go unnoticed. No matter who wins or loses all we the public want is for fairness...plain and simple. Dictatorship has been the new way to govern for the past 3 and 1/2 please don't turn or election into a debacle.
It happen this time just like it happen last time and the S****** know who the people are. She up in the Methodist Church on the choir praising God almost every Sunday.
Bad enough if the individual is the one "illegally" registering in a district in which she/he does not live. But, if a government official knowingly allow this to happen or willfully assign the individual to a place where he/does not reside.
Of course, the person should check to make ensure that things are what they should be. The fact that many don't is clear evidence of the mind-set of people here.
It should be illegal for persons to register to vote in a district in which they do not live. if they move from one district to the other,they should report this immediately.
A system needs to be put in place so that checks can be made to ensure that people vote in the district in which they reside. This is simple!!
wow u people are amazing all u talk i s$%^& all day long !
nothing is ever right for u people ! no matter who in charge of the election u would still run your mouths
grow up BVI PEOPLE
2007 and the VIP won.
How we conduct our election speaks to the character and values of the BVI. The world is watching us and observing how seriously we are dealing with the failure to follow simple election procedures, resulting in mishandling of cast ballots and erosion of confidence of the system.
The poor handling of the ballots may be looked at in some quarters as minor but is a serious infraction. Voters expect and trust that their cast ballots are processed with professionalism and integrity. The SOE and her staff is responsible and accountable for making this happen. The SOE who some think is aligned with the ruling party has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the election is administered freely and fairly, especially given the perception. Thus, we cannot view minor infractions as no big deal.
In addition to the poor handling of the ballots, there were also complaints of “electioneering” or campaigning at polling stations, a violation of the Election Act. However, though I could have missed it, at the briefing, I did not hear an acknowledgement of the complaint and what action will be taken to address the alleged complaint. Stand corrected if it were. In any event no campaigning should be allowed at polling stations. Period.
Post election, some electoral reforms are needed 1) a fix date is needed for the General Election, 2)an independent election agency is needed to conduct elections, 3)3-4 months before an election spending should be limited,4)minimum residency requirements for voters 5)absentee voting……etc. Though the early or advanced voting got off to a poor start, let’s have a better performance on Monday, June 08.