In response to concerns raised by Opposition parties about its pilot project for parallel data collection at polling stations during the Tobago House of Assembly elections tomorrow, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has decided to postpone implementing the project.
The following is the official statement issued by the EBC on the matter…
(EBC) — The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) met with representatives of the media and political parties contesting the upcoming Tobago House Assembly Elections on Saturday December 4th 2021 and subsequently agreed that it will not move forward with its pilot project for parallel data collection at polling stations in the specified electoral districts of Scarborough/Mt. Grace and Mt. St. George/Goodwood on Election Day, Monday 6th December, 2021. The Commission listened to all relevant parties and decided to defer for future elections after there is an opportunity for further consultation.
Political parties and the media were invited to sessions, to witness the demonstration of this project, which showed the simultaneous collection of data utilizing a technology process within a mock polling station. This highlighted how the technology would work in tandem with the existing manual process and that there would be no change in that manual process. The Progressive Democratic Patriots, however, declined the invitation to attend the demonstration and maintained their objection to this initiative. In light of this objection and as the EBC remains a committed partner to our democratic process, the Commission decided to defer the introduction of this initiative.
The Commission recognizes that this initiative, though limited to two electoral districts in the first instance, could have provided more timely data to stakeholders and potentially could have informed plans for improved service to the electorate. It is noteworthy that this collection of data utilizing technology, in addition to the manual process is currently being used successfully in the Caribbean and other overseas jurisdictions.
As the EBC prepares for the upcoming Local Government Elections in 2022, it will take the opportunity to meet with all stakeholders to discuss the advantages of this initiative.