The Parliamentary Registration Department (PRD) yesterday downplayed errors on the voters’ register, which was published on Monday, saying they were the result of “typographical errors” and a “system glitch”, but the Free National Movement (FNM) again sounded the alarm, warning that the situation could impact the credibility of the approaching general election.
But the PRD said the errors will not be of any consequence come Election Day.
“The Parliamentary Registration Department advises that errors have been identified and are the result of typographical matters and a system glitch,” it said.
“These are not consequential to the outcome of the election, as the voter’s card and counterfoil contain the accurate information that will be relied upon on voting day.
“The department cautions against presenting these matters as evidence of a wider problem or a departure from normal practice.”
The register, which contains the names of over 200,000 voters, had duplications as well as instances where listed voters had dates of birth that are in the future.
FNM Chairman Dr. Duane Sands said the situation is “incompetence” at best.
“There are people who, according to the register, are yet to be born,” he told The Nassau Guardian.
“Some were clearly ineligible by virtue of their age as listed on the register. There are duplications. It speaks to a serious question — is this just incompetence?”
Sands also raised concern over cases where qualified people were omitted from the register for the advanced poll, which is to take place tomorrow.
“There are a number of omissions of persons who would have duly executed the requisite form, submitted the necessary documents, and yet they were excluded from the advanced poll,” he said.
“Some of these people are traveling on May 12th and explicitly needed to be on the advanced poll register. And now they won’t have an opportunity to vote.
“We have FNM candidates who have been excluded from the advanced poll register, and they are certainly one group that the advanced poll was intended to assist.”
Sands was critical of the team at the Parliamentary Registration Department.
“They are not unbiased, they are not objective, and they are not executing their statute to statutory constitutional mandate,” he claimed.
In a statement yesterday, the PLP claimed the errors on the register were a “minor and inconsequential issue” that are “consistent with what has been seen in previous election cycles”.
“There has never been an election in The Bahamas, under any administration, where the register at publication did not contain errors identified through scrutiny,” the party said.
“The law provides for this process so that political parties and stakeholders can review the register and bring any issues to the attention of the Parliamentary Registration Department.”
The party said the FNM’s commentary is “an attempt to undermine public confidence in the electoral process by presenting routine matters as something unusual”.
“The PLP remains confident in the integrity of the process and in the systems in place to ensure a credible and accurate register ahead of the election,” it said.
