Election’s office begins drive for new voters
(CNS): With an estimated 10,000 people eligible to vote but not registered with the Elections Office, in preparation for next year’s General Election the office is beginning an election drive next month in conjunction with a number of local activist groups who are also encouraging those who can to register to vote. The recent referendum on one man, one vote focused the minds of many people who would qualify to vote but were unable to do so because the national poll was announced on the eve of the closure of that quarter’s register, preventing many people from exercising their democratic right.
As a result, the OMOV team are also now focused on promoting voter registration along with the newly formed Cayman United group, which is also hoping to recruit as many of the non-registered ten thousand as possible.
The Elections Office drive gets underway on Saturday 1 September, although they have not yet said where the Saturday registration stations will be located, and will continue through until 1 December. The final date for registration for people wanting to vote at the May 2013 General Elections will be 2 January 2013.
“All registered electors are requested to inspect the register of electors for their respective districts to ensure that their particulars as shown on the list are accurate,” said the elections office in a release announcing the drive. “It is essential for all registered electors who may have changed their address, whether within the same district or to another district, to complete the requisite Form 13 and submit it to the registering officer in that district or to the Elections Office.”
Officials from the elections office said they welcomed the groups interested in getting qualified individuals registered and asked them to bring these prospective electors in to the Saturday registration stations or the Elections Office. Officials explained that it is the registering officers who are responsible for compiling the registers of electors and determining whether a person qualifies.
The current register of electors is now posted at all post offices and public libraries for inspection. The list can also be accessed on the Elections Office’s website.
“All qualified individuals who are not now registered must remember that if they are not registered they cannot vote. TheElections Office is here to facilitate voters and to ensure that they have an opportunity to exercise their franchise,” officials added.
It should be noted that if an elector is already registered there is no need to re-register.
The Elections Office voter registration office for Cayman Brac & Little Cayman is at the Brac Executive Services office, which will be open for the next four Saturdays 10am-2pm. For more details, visit the CB&LC registration office Facebook page.
CNS has asked the Elections Office where the Saturday registration stations will be located and will publish this as soon as the office replies.
Download Elections Office forms
Category: Politics
FYI: Voter Turnout of Age-Eligible Population: Belgium 93%, Australia 80%, Greece, Italy 78%, Spain 77%, Netherlands, Japan 70%, German, Portugal 65%, UK 60%, Canada 50%, Korea 45%, France 40%, USA 38%
Here, 40% of the qualified and eligible elctorate has not even bothered to register (fear of jury duty? apathy?), which means that if Cayman achieved a high 80% voter turnout it would really only be 48% of the eligible voting population (many with new refridgerators and solar panels) casting their ballots for everyone.
How does that sit, Cayman?
As I explained below the issue is not laziness or apathy. The voter eligibility qualifications changed with the Constitution so that status holders can now vote but the govt. either did not understand that or else deliberately failed to educate the public about it so that they did not register. The issue has only recently come to light at which time the electoral register was closed. The 10,000 are mostly status holders who were not eligible to be on the electoral register for any previous election.
Historically Cayman's election turnouts have averaged around 80% and are therefore quite good and better than most on your list.
I wish the elections office luck in confirming no one registering ( or on the register) has been away for no more than 2 of the previous 4 years.
Register to vote and hope that the cycle will not continue. I pray that Caymanians elect people of integrity who will work together for the good of country and not self.
I just checked in to a hotel for a Staycation and used my voter’s registration card as my ID, literally about an hour ago. The two women behind the counter, both Caymanian, weren’t sure if it proved I was local or not and I asked them why and to my shame and astonishment they both said they had never seen one before!!!! I asked why they were not registered and did not vote and one said “politics is too political and when your voting you get involved in politics and I don’t go in for politics”!!!! Seriously, I could not make this up if I wanted to!
"to my shame and astonishment they both said they had never seen one before!!!"
Do you live here? I don't know _anyone_ who would be shocked and astonished by this. Voter turn out has been going down globally anyways. Story sounds contrived.
I use my drivers license when I vote. You dont need a voter card.
anyone living in the Cayman Islands can have a driver's license. That doesn't qualify you to vote.
It is not a question of qualifying you to vote but rather using it as photo ID to prove you are the person on the voters' list.
With such a small population and the country in such dire financial difficulties, it is an absolute disgrace that 10,000 people are missing from the voters register. Caymanian's should hold their head in shame and realise that they have allowed this mess to come about because they are to damn lazy to fill out a simple application. How can you continue to criticise the UK Government for stepping in and rescuing you from certain financial oblivion, when you don't have the moral fibre to stand up and be counted yourselves? You have been given a democratic right that many peoples around the world have died for, so get off your backsides, stop whinging and do something about it.
I don't think its always a case of too lazy to fill in the application. Many of the youths I know in the BT area simply have no faith in politics or the politicians of this country, and have lost any interest in voting until someone they consider worth voting for comes along.
That is no excuse, get involved and take control of your own destiny. Remember 'I HAVE A DREAM'
I have a dream that one day we will be rid of useless corrupt politicians so prevalent in this small country that is driven by nepotism and political connections. Until then there is nothing worth voting for.
You have got it turned around. That is exactly what is worth voting for – to be rid of useless, corrupt politicians. It doesn't happen by magic, but by good citizens voting responsibly.
The issue is not laziness. The voter eligibility qualifications changed with the Constitution so that status holders can now vote but the govt. either did not understand that or else deliberately failed to educate the public about it so that they did not register. The issue has only recently come to light at which time the electoral register was closed. The 10,000 are mostly status holders.
The voting regsitration has been difficult in the past. If you are a born Caymanian it is easy, but long term residents, married to Caymanians, new status holders, it is all VERY confusing!
We need a voter hotline and an in-person window at Immigration for those of us who want to register to vote. I've been here 13 years, married to a Caymanian, and have status….I would think I would be eligible, but have been told that I need to get my naturalization first?
CNS: See this Forum topic
Not correct according to the Constitution. The trouble is the Elections Law and Regulations need to be amended to reflect the new eligibility requirements.
It's easy and the elections staff are very helpful – takes 5 minutes!
Opposite is true. Very few born Caymanians can actually demonstrate they are Caymanian.
You better not bring the Immigration Department into it! God, where have you been living? If you have to depend on that place to get registered you might get it done by 2017. I am not surprised about the wrong information you got either, that is their trademark! LOL, sorry! Keep it easy and go Election Office. They can register you and it is quick and easy!
If there was someone fit to run for office i would have signed up a long time ago, but its the same group of eejits since I was born.
The rumours circulating of there being "new blood" in the May elections is the sole reason why i just signed up.
Thats one more tick against Mac.
Do I have to do jury service? If so forget it
Poor excuse, just cause you are picked doesn't mean you actually end up doing it.
Unlike the rest of the world, in Cayman you stand a 98% chance of knowing the peron on trial or the case itself in some way or another, so inevitably you are excused.
No, but you end up going to court a dozen times trying to find parking only to be sent home each time. How many employers will tolerate that? They can't fire you for jury service but they can soon find another reason!
Is Form 13 avalable online and if so could I have a link please ?
CNS: I've added a link to all the EO forms and also attached Form 13 (change of name. address, occupation) and Form 4 (application to register as an elector).
Can somebody confirm if we can submit these documetns online? Or do we still live in the dark ages where we have to hand deliver to the elections office?
If we can submit via email, whats the address?
Fingers crossed……
The way I read the information at http://www.electionsoffice.ky, a person needs to submit original documents to become a registered elector.
It's important enough to take a couple of hours (or more if necessary) to make certain that your elector priviledge is secured. Once you are registered, you can verify it at the above website.
This is a very pivotal time in Caymanian politics. I hope everyone who has the right but has not registered does so; we really loose the right to complain about the outcome if we don't have a hand in the process. Just my very humble opinion.