Chief Elections Officer Anthea Joseph announced that over 28,000 people have applied for confirmation as the Voter Confirmation Exercise approaches its deadline.
“So far, we have a total of 28,074 persons who have applied for confirmation and a total of 2,936 persons who have applied for new registration,” she said during a statement. “So that amounts to about 31,010 persons; thus far as the days progress towards the 14th of October, we expect that number to increase.”
According to Joseph, the numbers will definitely change towards next Wednesday.
“We have done quite well. The staff, we were equipped, we were trained, and we’re ready,” she stated.
She said confirmation centres were set up in various constituencies.
“[In] every constituency, there were confirmation centers set up so that persons could access the confirmation centre in order to get confirmed,” Joseph explained.
She further explained that in some constituencies there were more than one for accessibility for persons.
“I think we have done quite well. I was just looking at the figures for the 2019 elections. And we had a total of 32,171 persons participating in the elections in 2019,” Joseph revealed. “And in 2022, we had approximately 19,065 persons casting votes in the elections.”
Joseph believes that by 14th October, 2026, “We should be somewhere about 35,000 or more.”
Meanwhile, she encouraged the Dominican public to use the remaining days to get confirmed.
“As I say, we have a couple of days to go,” she emphasized. “Confirmation ends next week, Wednesday, exactly one week. We will be opeed on Sunday and next Wednesday. Traditionally, we would have been closing on Sunday and on Wednesday. But just to allow for persons to come in, we have decided that we would remain open on Sunday this week from 10 AM to 6 PM And on Wednesday, we will be open from 9.30 AM up to 5.30 PM. And if need be, if the lines are long, we will extend to allow every person on the 14th to get confirmed.”
Joseph said people still have the opportunity to get to the confirmation centres.
“You have seven days, and for a Dominican citizen, all you require is your passport, or a valid passport that is, or a valid ID, Social Security card or your driver’s license,” she encouraged. “Or if you do not have an ID, you could also use a passport-size photo and your birth certificate along with an affidavit. So you still have the opportunity to do so.”
Joseph continued, “ There are a number of persons that may want to get confirmed. We are open on till 5.30 PM in the afternoon. And on Sunday, we are extending it to 6 PM. And you know, Sunday is the day when most persons are home. They are not at work and they may have some free time.”
She added, “So we are encouraging persons to go out there and to get confirmed.”
Meanwhile, Joseph made it clear that she has not received any additional information that the confirmation period is going to be extended.
“I have not received those instructions from the Commission. So I cannot give you any information as to whether we are going to extend or whether we are going to stick to that date. But for what I know and from where I sit, we will end on October 14. That is next Wednesday,” she explained.
