The Electoral Office has dismissed allegations circulating on social media that individuals are able to bring documents on behalf of other electors and have them confirmed without those persons being present.
‘We wish to state categorically that this is absolutely false and cannot happen under the current confirmation process,’ Chief Election Officer, Anthea Joseph, said in a statement.
She said that the confirmation system is designed with safeguards that require the physical presence of every individual being confirmed.
‘During the process, the individual’s information is entered into the system, a photograph is taken, and the individual must provide their signature electronically using the signature pad. ‘The software will not complete the confirmation application unless both the photograph and the electronic signature have been captured,’ Joseph said, adding that ‘it is therefore impossible for a person to be confirmed simply by someone presenting documents on their behalf without physical presence of that elector.
‘The Electoral Office rejects the false information that has been circulated and wishes to assure the public that the prescribed procedures are being strictly followed at all confirmation centres. The Office further assures the public that every effort is being made to ensure the integrity of the confirmation process through appropriate supervision and oversight at every confirmation centre.’
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that he has been advised that the issuance of voter identification cards is expected to begin by the end of this month, as his administration remains fully committed to completing the implementation of the most comprehensive electoral reform program in Dominica’s history.
‘After years of consultation with political parties, civil society, regional and international experts, and other stakeholders, Parliament unanimously enacted legislation to modernize our electoral system. We have now moved from legislation to implementation,’ Skerrit told a news conference, adding that the issuance of the voter identification card will mark ‘another important milestone’.
Skerrit told reporters that the legislation establishes clear legal procedures for registration, confirmation, publication of the register, objections, and appeals.
‘It does not establish numerical targets as a test of legitimacy. The integrity of the register should therefore be judged by whether those included are legally entitled to vote and not by whether every eligible citizen has exercised that right,’ Skerrit said.
In June 2024, the former president of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Dennis Byron, submitted a report on electoral reform to the government of Dominica.
Sir Dennis had been the sole commissioner advancing efforts towards electoral reform, a major issue here, with the opposition parties, the United Workers Party (UWP) and the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), boycotting the last general election.
In its statement, the Electoral Office said it ‘remains committed to administering the voter confirmation process in accordance with the Registration of Electors Act and established procedures.
‘The Office urges members of the public to verify information through its official communication channels and to refrain from sharing unverified claims that may mislead electors or undermine public confidence in the electoral process,’ it added.