Elections office now issuing ID cards

(CNS): With less than six weeks to go before Cayman goes to the polls the election office preparations are in full swing. Officials have already started issuing postal ballots and scheduled the mobile voting.  On Monday it will begin a district tour to issue voter registration cards for those electors who wish to use the ballot IDs to help make the voting process go smoothly. 56 candidates are running for office on 22 May and electors have as many as six votes in the capital, so moving a potential of more than 18,000 voters through the stations will be a challenge for officials who hope to make things run as efficiently as possible.

Election cards can be collected in West Bay on Monday April 15 at the West Bay Library Parking Lot at the Elections Trailer from 10:00am until 7:00pm. Then on Tuesday 16 April in Bodden Town at the Civic Centre again from 10:00am till 7:00pm. The officials moveto East End Civic Centre on Wednesday April 17 from 10am to 7pm and North Side Civic Centre on Thursday again from 10 till 7. The officials will be on Cayman Brac on Friday April 19 the office will give cards out to the general public at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre between 9 and 4 and then again on Saturday for Elections Staff, Candidates and Agents.

Meanwhile, voters in George Town can collect their cards from the Elections Office in Smith Road anytime during the week from 9am until 4-30pm.

This election will see a record number of voters entitled to cast their ballot and in both Bodden Town and George Town, electors have an increase in the number of votes they can cast. While voters in Bodden Town have increased from four votes to six, the elections office is particularly concerned to emphasise to George Town voters who have for many years cast four votes that then can cast six. With a ballot sheet of 21 names and with a high turn-out expected well over 7500 potential voters in the capital polling may take longer than usual.

Election officials are keen to ensure that they get voters through the polling stations as efficiently as possible so that the polls can close on time and the all-important count will not be delayed. As a result they are urging electors to familiarize themselves with their district candidates and the number of votes they nowhave to ensure they understand their voting rights on Election Day and come prepared to use their votes as they choose without any undue influence.