– lauds in-house SoP system, strengthening of cybersecurity safeguards
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been praised for delivering what the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) describes as one of the “most transparent, credible, and professionally managed elections” in Guyana’s modern history. The commendation is contained in UNDP’s comprehensive report on the 2025 General and Regional Elections, highlighting major reforms, strengthened communications, improved operations, and innovative IT systems that enhanced public trust and institutional confidence.
According to the report, the September 1, 2025 elections represented not just a civic milestone but a defining moment in rebuilding confidence in Guyana’s electoral process. With technical assistance from UNDP Guyana–funded by the Government of the United Kingdom–GECOM implemented a series of reforms and operational upgrades that observers say contributed significantly to an orderly, peaceful, and widely accepted election.
UNDP: Building trust in democracy
UNDP’s involvement in Guyana is part of its global expertise, having supported elections in more than 60 countries. In Guyana, the agency provided strategic advice, strengthened communications, enhanced logistics, and supported the introduction of innovative technology–efforts that together reinforced GECOM’s role as a trusted guardian of democracy.
The multidisciplinary UNDP Electoral Support Project guided these interventions to ensure they were “practical, timely, and responsive.” As the UNDP Team Lead noted:
“The elections, despite challenges, were calm, peaceful, and professionally managed. Results were delivered within days, and all political parties accepted the outcome. The professionalism and direction taken by GECOM were central to this achievement.”
Additionally, one of the most transformative areas of support was communications. UNDP assisted GECOM in developing and implementing a Communications Strategy, a Branding Manual, and a Crisis Communication Protocol, which together ensured clearer, timelier, and more consistent public information dissemination. A Media Code of Conduct and Media Policy were also introduced to guide responsible coverage of the electoral process, and more than 100 journalists received training on electoral law, procedures, and ethical reporting to strengthen accuracy and fairness in media coverage.
Civic and voter education campaigns were rolled out across the country, reaching citizens in hinterland communities and dense urban centres alike. These initiatives were supported by a newly established feedback framework designed to identify and address emerging concerns and misinformation during community outreach. UNDP also worked closely with disability-rights organisations to improve inclusivity, ensuring that polling staff were trained on how to support persons with disabilities and that voter education materials reflected Guyana’s diversity, including youth, women, men, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.
The Electoral Communications Specialist noted that communication was used as a unifying tool, explaining:
“Communication became the bridge that united communities, curbed misinformation, and built trust. Strengthened engagement with stakeholders made the process more inclusive and widely accepted.”
A central Media Centre established on election day created a single hub for journalists and observers to access timely updates and briefings, strengthening transparency and improving the flow of verified information.
Smooth operations across a challenging landscape
According to organisation, Guyana’s vast geography demands a complex operational effort to ensure every citizen can vote. With UNDP support, GECOM completed assessments of 2,790 polling stations throughout the country, enhancing accessibility across coastal, riverine, and hinterland communities. The Commission also trained 13,925 polling officials to uphold fairness, transparency, and efficiency on election day. Sensitive materials—including ballots, ballot boxes, indelible ink, and forms—were securely procured, verified, and distributed under strict oversight by political party agents.
These detailed measures contributed to strengthening Guyana’s democratic values by ensuring that citizens across all regions could participate in shaping their country’s future.
Reflecting on these efforts, UNDP’s Operations and Logistics Specialist highlighted the spirit of the electorate:
“Beyond systems and logistics, what stood out was the commitment of citizens. Their resilience and diversity gave meaning to every ballot cast.”
Furthermore, UNDP supported GECOM in enhancing its in-house Statement of Poll (SoP) Upload System by strengthening cybersecurity safeguards. This ensured that results continued to be uploaded securely even when the public-facing website temporarily experienced outages. In addition, the upgraded Results Tabulation Application was deployed across 20 counting centres nationwide and was praised by both domestic and international observers for its clarity, efficiency, and user-friendly interface.
The UNDP IT Specialist emphasised the importance of aligning technology with existing electoral laws and procedures, stating:
“Technology is the backbone of credible and resilient elections. When stakeholders understand the system and trust it, democracy is strengthened.”
UNDP Guyana reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to supporting democratic institutions and governance resilience. As Guyana continues its rapid development trajectory, UNDP pledged to maintain its partnership with GECOM and other national institutions to uphold transparency, inclusion, and trust—ensuring that democracy becomes stronger with each successive election.
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