Mobile voting starts as clock ticks to referendum day
(CNS): A total of 344 applications have been received by the elections office for people to use the mobile voting unit for the one man, one vote referendum, officials confirmed on Monday. The advanced mobile voting started on Little Cayman on Friday 6 July and continues this week on Cayman Brac, North Side, East End, Bodden Town, George Town and West Bay. All voters who have applied to vote by this method are being encouraged to take note of the date that polling will be conducted in their respective district, details of which are posted below and on the elections website.
All Cayman voters will be going to the polls to cast their vote on Wednesday 18 July but those who are infirm and confined to their homes or who will be unable to attend the polling station on referendum day itself will have the chance to take advantage of the mobile voting service, which was first introduced in Cayman at the 2009 elections.
Officials are also reminding all licensed establishments that under the Liquor Licensing Law they are forbidden from selling, offering for sale or giving away intoxicating liquor between the opening of the polls at 7:00am on referendum day until one hour after the polls close at 6:00pm. Contravention of this section of the Elections Law carries a fine of $500 or imprisonment for 6 months.
As with general elections, all referendum advertisements must cease at midnight on 17 July and all banners, buntings, and ensigns must be removed from the public domain by that deadline as well. The use of loudspeakers and the wearing of T-shirts, pins or other paraphernalia is also forbidden on polling day supporting either a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote.
The magic number to carry the referendum is 7,582 ‘yes’ votes. Anything less will be considered a ‘No’ by government as it requires 50% plus one of the entire electorate and not 50% of the turnout. OMOV campaigners are doing their best to keep the campaign alive by going door to door, but are up against the government machine, which is now campaigning against its own poll.
The UDP is due to hold a series of public meetings this week using public finances to campaign against the question, which will ask voters if they would like to change the country’s voting system from multi-member, multi voting to one man, one vote in single member constituencies.
Although OMOV campaigners and those against the democratic principle will not be able to encourage people to vote one way or the other on the day, they will be able to continue encouraging people to go to the polls.
“Voting is a simple process and polling teams have been trained to poll expeditiously. All registered voters are urged to exercise their franchise to vote on this matter of national importance and with it being a public holiday there really is no excuse not to attend the polls,” the elections office said. “Employers should also be mindful of the Law which allows for them to allow every voter in their employ a reasonable period to attend a polling station to vote. Failing to comply carries a penalty of $500.00 or a term of imprisonment of 6 months.”
They pointed to other offences contained in the Elections Law which will also apply to the referendum, including bribery, treating and undue influence.
“The Police and Elections Office will be monitoring this closely and anyone who has knowledge of any such alleged infraction should contact the Police, Elections Office or the Returning Officer for the district in which the alleged infraction has occurred,” the office confirmed Monday.
Polls will open promptly at 7:00am Wednesday 18 July in all districts at 39 polling stations. Voters in West Bay are reminded that there have been changes to polling venues at 3 locations in that district. For those who previously voted at the Church of Christ the substitute venue will be an air conditioned tent across from Republics (Foster’s Food Fair). For those who previously voted at the New Testament Church of God voting will now take place at the Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church and for those who previously voted at the John Gray United Church voting will take place at the air conditioned tent situated on North West Point Road.
CNS will be offering full coverage of the election all day with details of polling information during the day and counting information as it proceeds during the night. The Elections Office website will also be providing information as it becomes available. The count will be conducted in each district and the final result will be announced by the Supervisor of Elections.
Mobile polling will be conducted in the 6 electoral districts on the following dates and times:
West Bay- 12th July, 2012 at the John A. Cumber School Hall for electors that are unable to go to the polls because of employment/service or occupation commencing at 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. In the case of private residences/hospitals/rest homes or other similar institutions a mobile team will visit between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M.
George Town- 11th July, 2012 at the Elections Office at 150 Smith Road for electors that are unable to go to the polls because of employment/service or occupation commencing at 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. In the case of private residences/hospitals/rest homes or other similar institutions a mobile team will visit between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M.
Bodden Town- 10th July, 2012 at the James Manoah Bodden Civic Centre for electors that are unable to go to the polls because of employment/service or occupation commencing at 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. In the case of private residences/hospitals/rest homes or other similar institutions a mobile team will visit between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M.
North Side- 9th July, 2012 at the North Side Primary School for electors that are unable to go to the polls because of employment/service or occupation commencing at 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. In the case of private residences/hospitals/rest homes or other similar institutions a mobile team will visit between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M.
East End- 9th July, 2012 at the William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre for electors that are unable to go to the polls because of employment/service or occupation commencing at 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. In the case of private residences/hospitals/rest homes or other similar institutions a mobile team will visit between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M
Cayman Brac- 9th July, 2012 at the Aston Rutty Centre for electors that are unable to go to the polls because of employment/service or occupation commencing at 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. In the case of private residences/hospitals/rest homes or other similar institutions a mobile team will visit between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M
Category: Politics
I have already placed my "X" beside the YES via postal ballot.
Does this article have anything to do with this morning's (9th July) convoy of PW vehicles, two pick up trucks and another one pulling a caravan with taped on signs declaring "vote no?" By the way, the taped onnsigns barely covered the Public Works logos on all three trucks. Just saying.
WOW! Really?!!! – Did anyone take photos of this?
I will be marking a large X next to YES on my early ballot tomorrow morning in Bodden town. I am one man and deserve one vote…..and so do you. Ask yourself "why" is the current goverment so determined to see this fail? Show up at the polls and cast your ballot. Do what you know in your heart is right, just and fair.
22;46
You are being set up to fail, both you and your single representitive.
When are you all people going to learn that this OMOV movement, by these political hopefuls-Makeeva haters, are exactly what it is…to "remove Makeeva's government and put us in power"!
Tell me how many years have you heard the same BS,
" They not doing their job"…vote for me I can do better"!
I can go back as far as 35 years ago, and i havent seen any different in accountability of any of these Parlimentarians, Cabinet or back benchers…. except for a few that have the people at heart.
Caymanians, dont let these people fool you, our Politicians cannot be a Parlimentarian and babysit us at the same time, there's do not that many hours in a day. Further more they have bigger issues to deal with.
What you should be focusing on is the district councils, that were implemented by this administration. Get on to these people and put fire under their backside to do their job.
These are our lobbyist, our eyes, ears and mouth. In the real world these lobbyist lobby for whatever the district wants, and need. (ask a jamaician about their Parish councils)
OMOV is not going to pull it, set up your district councils.
Perhaps you would like us to go back to the days of Vestryman under Jamaican rule?
McKeeva, is that u on here posting?
I wish we could remove the Bush and the UDP with the OMOV. However we will do that next year, so save your rambling for then. We do not want anyone to coddle us – in fact too much of that is being done now. We want a democratic Government where each person has equal rights accross the islands. Anyone who cannot understand that must really be lacking a few brain cells. If you need help understanding please call either of the OMOV proponents and they will gladly explain it to you .
I got my ballot and marked my YES FOR CAYMAN. My vote is a vote against extension cords, against weak members in the LA, against giving the Island away to vultures, against courption in Government and lastly against Bush.