New voters get last chance

(CNS): Following a request made by the new premier and a motion in the Legislative Assembly, which gained the support of all of the members last week, the governor has agreed to extend the voter registration period for the next election, but only by one more week and not until the end of January as had been requested by the House. People who are qualified to vote now have until midnight on 22 January to get their names on the register in time for the May General Election. Supervisor of Elections, Kearney Gomez, said those people who came to register after the original 2 January cut-off point will now make the list in time for the national poll on 22 May and people could continue to come until the end of next Tuesday, 22 January, and still make the list.

Legislators hoped that, since the Christmas and New Year holiday made it difficult for some people to get the necessary documentation ready in time, the extra week would help to enfranchise even more Caymanians for the ever-growing voters' list. The forthcoming election is likely to see the largest percentage of the population for several decades being entitled to go to the polls on election day if they choose, and expectations are high that most of them will take advantage of their democratic right.

Despite the various divisions now in the Legislative Assembly and the problems faced by the new premier with a minority government, the legislators debated and voted unanimously last Thursday in favour of extending the registration period. It was apparent that, regardless of their differences, all of the politicians agreed that it was in the best interests of Cayman that as many people as possible participate in the next election.

In response to the premier’s request and the vote, the governor, who has the power to make the decision and issue any orders regarding the timelines and process regarding the election, agreed to an extension for the voting period..

“I understand that there are still some people in the Cayman Islands who are eligible to vote but had not been able to register before the 2 January deadline,” Duncan Taylor said in a short statement released by his office. “In order that they are not disenfranchised, I have today taken the decision to issue an Order for the registration period to be extended until 22 January. I decided to limit registration to this date as I did not want the date for the register of elections coming into force to slip from 1 April. If this date were to slip it could make it more difficult for students and other eligible people off island to apply for and send in their postal votes.”

He said he was confident that the extension would give anyone who did not register but wished to the time to do so and make them eligible to vote in the forthcoming General Election. He urged those applicants who have been requested by the registering officers to provide additional documentation or information to take advantage of this opportunity to do so as well.

It is hoped that the register, which currently stands at approximately 18,150, may increase by a few hundred more names as a result of the extension, as there are believed to be still several thousand more people in Cayman who are qualified to vote but have chosen not to do so.

The Elections Office is encouraging everyone to take advantage of the extension as it really will be the last chance because the register must be checked and finalised and formally approved before the beginning of April in order to give absentee voters the opportunity to vote by post.

A registration station will be established in the reception at the Smith Road office and more details on the documents needed to become a registered voter are available at www.electionsoffice.ky

See notice from ther elections office below