Vote has possible 3rd result

(CNS): The referendum on one man, one vote (OMOV) and single member constituencies which will take place on 18 July could have a third outcome that may still influence government even if the ‘yes’ vote doesn’t carry, elections office officials said Monday. The deputy supervisor of elections said the vote will only be binding with a 50% plus one vote result for either ‘yes’ or ‘no, but the third outcome, in which neither the ‘no’ vote nor the ‘yes’ vote reach the threshold set by government, would not be a wasted message. Colford Scott explained that the number of votes cast in the referendum can still serve to advise government on the mood of the people towards single member or multi-member constituencies.

If the ‘yes’ vote falls only marginally short of the target set by government and wins the majority of the turnout, it may well decide that the Cayman Islands is ready for single member constituencies at the next election. However, if the 'no' vote wins the majority of the turnout at the polls it could set back the OMOV campaign for some time. The magic figure for a binding result is 7,582 as the total electorate for the referendum is 15,161.
Scott pointed out at a press briefing about the national vote that, whatever the result of the referendum, it would not be a wasted exercise.

With the elections office now in full swing, mobile voting starts a week Friday in Little Cayman before it begins its tour around Grand Cayman, where hundreds of voters will be polled ahead of Referendum Day.

Mobile voting is made up of two elements: the first is the ‘in home’ or institution voting where election officials go the Pines and other retirement homes, the hospital  and people’s own homes to allow the elderly and infirm to cast their vote. The second is a mobile voting unit which provides early voting for the hundreds of workers who will be unable to go to the polls on Referendum Day because they are emergency service personnel or involved in the election itself.

Already 135 postal ballots have been issued and several more applied for and election officials said they expected a higher than normal number of postal ballots because of the referendum being in July. The deadline for making an application for an absentee ballot is 6 July but the completed forms can be received by election staff up to 6pm on Referendum Day.

Supervisor of Elections Kearney Gomez said that as a result of the anticipated postal ballots, the formal result of the full national vote probably won’t be announced until the morning of Thursday 19 July. He explained that counting postal votes takes longer because of the necessary verification.

For those voters who will be casting their vote on Referendum Day, the polls open at 7am and, with three exceptions, voters are required to go to the same district polling station where they voted in the last general election.

In West Bay three of the usual locations were unavailable and, as a result, voters in West Bay East will cast their ballot at a tent on the vacant lot opposite Fosters Repulix, those in West Bay South at a tent on the vacant lot at 88 North West Point Road, and those in West Bay North will vote at the Presbyterian Church on Boatswain Bay Road.

Throughout the voting day information will be updated on the number of voters coming out to the polls on a two-hourly basis, which will give an indication of whether enough people have voted for a possible binding result. If less than 7,582 votes come out to the poll then Cayman will know when the polls close that the result won’t be binding. With a constant update on numbers, though, campaigners on both sides of the debate will be able to continue encourage voters to go to the polls in order to get the sort of turnout that could influence government even if a binding result is not achieved.

With real time updates once the count begins, the media will be able to convey a running tally of votes throughout the night, keeping the country informed if the magic figure is achieved, one way or another. The counts will also take place in the districts and government will be able to see which of the existing electoral districts support or do not support the democratic principle one man, one vote. 

The elections office confirmed that the usual rules and regulations governing a general election will apply to Referendum Day, and campaigners on the yes or no side will not be allowed to campaign directly but only to encourage people to go to the polls. Officials also confirmed that all liquor licensed premises, including hotel bars, must remain closed until 7pm in the evening.

For full details on postal ballots, mobile voting, district polling stations and other information visit the election website and be sure to keep glued to CNS on Referendum Day for full coverage and instant updates.