GECOM warns against bribes, hate speech and voter coercion

Bribing voters, spreading hate and coercing a person to vote in a particular way are among a range of actions considered election offences under Guyanese law, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has warned ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections.

The commission said election offences are actions and practices prohibited by law to ensure free and fair elections. Anyone found guilty can face prison time, fines, or both, and in some cases may be disqualified from voting in subsequent elections.

Other offences include registering or voting more than once in the same election; voting when not qualified; voting in the name of another person; canvassing for voters or interfering with an elector within 200 yards of a polling station; attempting to vote before polls open or after they close; and removing or defacing official election notices or materials.

It is also illegal to print or possess ballot papers or other election materials without authorisation, tamper with a ballot box, obstruct an election officer, assist a political party or candidate to gain unfair advantage, or provide false information to be nominated as a candidate.

GECOM further noted that inciting enmity or hatred against a candidate or political party on the basis of religion, ethnicity, profession, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation, as well as organising or training persons to use violence to breach the peace, are punishable offences.

The commission urged the public to report any suspected electoral offence to the Presiding Officer, and if necessary, provide a written account to the Returning Officer for their electoral district.