United Workers Party (UWP) candidate for the Roseau North constituency, Danny Lugay, has raised concerns with the Chief Elections Officer over what he describes as irregularities in the electoral confirmation process, including the appearance of several electors on the latest supplementary list without what he says are valid addresses and allegations that applications are being processed in the absence of applicants.
In a letter dated July 19, Lugay said he had noted “with concern” that the most recent supplementary list contained “several names of electors without a valid address,” describing the situation as unprecedented and inconsistent with the electoral statute. He urged the Electoral Office to correct the issue before any election is held in the constituency. Lugay also referred to what he described as serious allegations that staff at confirmation centres in Roseau North were accepting applications for registration and confirmation from people acting on behalf of applicants who were not present and who were allegedly not from the constituency. He said that, if proven, such actions would constitute a violation of the electoral law and requested an urgent response to both matters.
In a statement issued on July 20, the Electoral Office responded to what it described as false claims circulating on social media that individuals could bring documents on behalf of other electors and have them confirmed without those persons being present. The Office categorically denied the allegation, stating that the confirmation process requires every elector to appear in person, have their photograph taken, and provide an electronic signature before an application can be completed. It said the software will not finalize a confirmation unless both the photograph and electronic signature have been captured, making it impossible for someone to be confirmed in their absence. The Electoral Office also said it remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the confirmation process through supervision and oversight at all confirmation centres.
However, while the Electoral Office addressed the allegation regarding the confirmation of electors in their absence, its statement did not respond to Lugay’s separate concern about the presence of electors on the supplementary list without what he described as valid addresses.
