200-yard rule in effect: GECOM reminds public of election law restrictions

See below full press release from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM):

As the Guyana Elections Commission prepares for Disciplined Forces Balloting on Friday, 22nd August, 2025 and the conduct of the Elections on the 1st September, 2025, the Commission takes this opportunity to remind the general public of the statutory provisions in relation to the annoyance, molestation, interference and obstruction during the electoral process.

Specifically, Section 78 of the Representation of the People Act enacts that, “No person shall anywhere within a distance of two hundred yards of a polling place annoy, molest or otherwise interfere with an elector or attempt to obtain any information as to the list of candidates for whom any elector in the polling place is about to vote or has voted either on his own behalf or as a proxy on behalf of another elector.”

The term “no person” indicates a total prohibition because it creates a broad absolute restriction for everyone, leaving no room for exceptions or specific allowances for certain individuals or groups.

Further, Section 78(A) is instructive. It provides that, “any person who, without due authority, obstructs, or otherwise interferes with access to, or egress from a polling place, the voting at an election by any person registered as an elector….shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of sixty-five thousand dollars together with imprisonment for a term of one year …”

Additionally, Section 79(b) of the Representation of the People Act clearly outlines the persons entitled to be at a polling place, polling station, and at a count. It is therefore against this backdrop, GECOM finds it necessary to advise all persons to abide by the legal provisions and avoid committing any of the above stated election offences.

The Commission anticipates the orderly and peaceful conduct of the polls and remains confident in delivering free, fair, transparent and credible elections.