Let me get this out of the way from the start. If you or your August 10 campaigners are COVID-deniers or are behaving like them; do not come by me! Simple.
Yes, our sense of personal space was never WHO compliant. Face masks are therefore more important. I am serious, you know. Do not come by me!
With that out of the way, let’s deal with elections in the midst of a pandemic. I have not heard anyone object to it with any vigour, so we can assume that the elections are being held with everyone’s general approval.
We are not the only country in the world to be going down this path under pandemic conditions.
Internationally, between March and April alone, there were more than 25 electoral contests and, yes, there have been postponements.
In the Caribbean so far this year, there have been elections in Anguilla, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Saint Maarten, St Kitts & Nevis and Suriname. Three of them proved marginally problematic, but only Guyana has presented a worst-case scenario that has had virtually nothing to do with the pandemic.
The losing Labour Party in SKN has filed election petitions challenging the June 5 result, complaining in part about the absence of OAS and Commonwealth observers because of COVID restrictions.
Uncharacteristically, hundreds of overseas-based voters (they allow that there) were also not allowed entry to cast their ballots because of a closed border.
A COVID-tested three-member Caricom observer team has however reported “no major concerns” and gave the elections process a clean bill of health.
In Suriname, with their borders closed, there was social distancing and masks for the May 25 elections. Rallies had been limited to no more than 50 participants and this was, more or less, observed.
The result was a change of government from the National Democratic Party (NDP) to a coalition dominated by Chan Santokhi’s Progressive Reform Party (VHP). There were recounts, but Santokhi should be sworn in as president by August 13.
There was also a change of government in Anguilla on June 29. The Anguilla Progressive Movement (APM) won seven of the 11 parliamentary seats.
An Order in Council had initially allowed for a postponement to no later than September 11 because of the pandemic. But this was not invoked by authorities.
There is now the disturbing situation regarding Guyana’s March 2 elections. By the end of today, the CCJ should have unveiled light at the end of the long, dark elections tunnel.
Though COVID restrictions were not yet in full flight in Guyana on election day, pandemic threats intensified in the face of a highly problematic post-election process.
Lessons can be learnt from our regional neighbours and the 20 or so other countries that have travelled this path in 2020.
There are impacts on voter registration (we, thankfully, have continuous registration here); arrangements for the recruitment and training of EBC poll day staff, and polling agents by the political parties.
The system of Special Electors can also, from my reading, be invoked for electors who might be in mandatory quarantine or are being treated for the disease. And arrangements for handling of voters’ ink are already in place. There are, of course, no provisions for overseas’ votes or mailed ballots.
Because there are limitations on the size of rallies (25 people), the parties will also have to rely more heavily on virtual events – which they are already doing – media advertising, and the enhanced use of social media.
On election day, standard EBC rules already cater for a suitable level of physical distancing. I do not understand why there are questions about the wearing of facemasks, though, unless you are a sworn COVID-denier.
Once people have voted, arrangements must ensure that the counting, tallying and verification processes are conducted in a manner not to expose polling agents and officials to unnecessary risk.
So far, from the experiences recorded in the region and elsewhere, with few exceptions, voter turnout has been close to recent averages. The Dominican Republic, with over 800 COVID deaths, registered a close to 50% voter turnout Sunday.
In St Kitts and Nevis, the turnout was over 58%. In Suriname it was 72 per cent.
I think we can do this without much more than the regular fuss. Let’s get on with it.