GECOM awaiting response from APNU+AFC on information to proceed with voter impersonation investigation

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is awaiting a response from the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) to submit information relating to allegations of voters’ impersonation to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) so that investigations into the matter can commence.

At the request of the APNU+AFC, on September 28, the Chairperson GECOM, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh forwarded information sent by the APNU+AFC in relation to allegations of voters’ impersonation during the 2020 General and Regional Elections to the GPF and the General Register Office (GRO).

The GPF has since requested that the addresses of the alleged persons be provided, a press statement from GECOM on Wednesday noted.

Accordingly, Justice (ret’d) Singh has since written to the Chief Scrutineer of APNU+AFC, Carol Smith-Joseph requesting that the APNU+AFC provide the necessary information so that the GPF can commence its investigation into the allegations of voters’ impersonation.

GECOM noted that notwithstanding the elections body being the custodian of the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB) which contains personal information of all registrants, the Commission cannot release the information due to confidentiality issues which might arise.

“Whereas the Commission is committed to ensure that the concerns raised by the APNU+AFC are adequately addressed in a prioritized manner to ensure a resolution within the shortest time possible, it is of crucial importance to note that, notwithstanding GECOM is the custodian of the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB) which contains personal information of all registrants, the Commission cannot release such information to the GPF owing to legal confidentiality issues that might arise,” the press statement noted.