Guyana Elections Commission rejects cellphone ban at polling stations

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has decided it will not require voters to surrender their mobile phones before casting their ballots, despite concerns about the secrecy of the vote and the risk of electoral misconduct.

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Opposition-nominated commissioner Vincent Alexander confirmed the decision, which was reached by majority vote at a commission meeting on Tuesday. Government-appointed commissioners, along with GECOM Chairperson retired Justice Claudette Singh, voted against implementing a mandatory phone storage policy at polling stations.

While GECOM reiterated that photographing a marked ballot is strictly prohibited under election laws, it stopped short of banning phones outright. Alexander and other opposition commissioners had supported such a ban, citing concerns about vote-buying and voter intimidation. According to Alexander, there are fears that individuals are being paid to vote for certain parties and are using their phones to photograph their ballots as proof.

“There is a rumor that people are being paid to vote for specific parties… they take a picture to show to the party as proof of how they voted,” he said, adding that there had also been past incidents of individuals sharing photos of their ballots on social media immediately after voting.

However, opponents of the ban argued that enforcing a phone collection policy would pose logistical challenges and place additional burdens on polling staff. Alexander noted that the decision not to implement the measure was based in part on concerns over the need for staff training and the complexities of securing voters’ personal devices.

Still, the commission maintains that taking photos in the voting booth is illegal and warned that violations may lead to prosecution.

On Monday, GECOM issued a public reminder of key election laws, particularly for first-time voters, highlighting the illegality of vote-buying and actions that compromise the secrecy of the ballot. Under the Representation of the People Act, it is a criminal offense to offer money or gifts in exchange for votes, or to reveal how a person voted — whether done voluntarily or under pressure.

GECOM warned that anyone found guilty of such offenses could face fines, imprisonment of up to six months, and disqualification from future elections.

In a statement on Tuesday, the opposition APNU coalition called on GECOM to do more to educate the public about the ban on photography and camera use within polling stations. The party also urged GECOM and the Guyana Police Force to establish hotlines for anonymous reports of electoral fraud, stressing the importance of safeguarding the secrecy of the vote.

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“The other contesting political parties… should have no difficulty in publicly endorsing these and other measures to maintain the secrecy of the ballot,” the coalition said. “Not only is the country’s democracy at stake, but its very soul.”