GECOM reaffirms voting rights of Commonwealth residents

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has dismissed claims casting doubt on the participation of Commonwealth nationals in Monday’s General and Regional Elections, stressing that their right to vote is guaranteed under the law.
Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward told reporters that Commonwealth citizens who have legally lived in Guyana for at least one year are eligible to register and vote. “Under the laws of Guyana, Commonwealth citizens who have been residing in Guyana for one year or more are eligible to vote,” she said, pointing to provisions in the National Registration Act.
Ward addressed social media speculation that multiple Commonwealth nationals had been registered at the same address, explaining that housing arrangements are not overseen by GECOM and that companies often accommodate foreign workers at a single location.
She also clarified several Election Day issues, including reports of voters without ID cards, noting that those whose names were on the Official List of Electors were still able to cast their ballots after verification. Concerns about the positioning of voting compartments and the presence of police at polling places were also addressed in keeping with electoral regulations.
GECOM urged the public to rely on official information rather than rumours, warning that misinformation could undermine confidence in the electoral process. “Spreading misleading claims risks undermining public confidence,” Ward said.