General and Regional Elections 24 political parties submit symbols to GECOM

Twenty-four political parties seeking to contest the upcoming General and Regional Elections have submitted their party symbols to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for approval, in accordance with the statutory timeline issued by the Commission. The deadline for submission was June 23, 2025, following a public notice from GECOM inviting interested political parties to comply with the requirement.
The Commission is scheduled to review and approve the submitted symbols on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Parties will be formally notified of the outcome shortly after the Commission has completed its deliberations.
As part of the election process, political parties are mandated to submit their Lists of Candidates on Nomination Day, set for July 14, 2025. These submissions must be accompanied by a copy of the respective party’s pre-approved symbol and submitted to the Chief Election Officer (CEO). GECOM has reiterated its commitment to maintaining an open line of communication with stakeholders to ensure that all parties are adequately prepared for the critical electoral timelines.
Preparations for the General and Regional Elections, scheduled for September 1, 2025, continue to advance. Earlier this week, GECOM administered the Oaths of Office to 10 Returning Officers (ROs) and 10 Supernumerary Returning Officers (SROs) during a formal ceremony led by GECOM Chairperson, (Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh. The appointments represent a significant milestone in the Commission’s election readiness plan.
According to a GECOM statement, the Returning Officers will oversee electoral operations within their assigned districts, while the Supernumerary Returning Officers will manage electoral sub-districts in Regions Three, Four, and Six, as stipulated by the Representation of the People Act (ROPA). The list of appointed officers and the addresses of their respective offices have been made available to the public via GECOM’s official website, www.gecom.org.gy.
The Commission emphasised that transparency, professionalism, and integrity remain central to its operational ethos as preparations intensify.
Amendments to the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2025—recently passed in the National Assembly—now permit either the SRO or their deputy to conduct the tabulation of votes within sub-districts. These legislative changes were introduced in response to the controversy surrounding the 2020 elections, particularly the tabulation of Region Four’s results by former RO Clairmont Mingo, who is currently facing electoral fraud charges.
In the lead-up to the September polls, GECOM has also been conducting its mandatory Claims and Objections exercise. The ‘Claims’ phase has concluded, while the ‘Objections’ period is set to close today, paving the way for the compilation of the Revised List of Electors. This list will be publicised for 21 days before being finalised and certified.
Concurrently, GECOM is continuing preparations on other fronts, including the identification of polling station locations and the coordination of election day logistics.
Following Nomination Day, key electoral milestones include: July 15: Notification of death or withdrawal of candidates and feedback on defects in submitted lists; July 17: Submission of corrected lists and additional withdrawals; July 18: Issuance of approval or rejection notices by GECOM; July 20: Deadline for appeals to the High Court; July 21: Deadline for notifications of joinder of lists and July 23: Gazetting of the approved Lists of Candidates.

Disciplined Services
Members of the Disciplined Services will cast their ballots in advance on August 22, ahead of the national vote on September 1.
GECOM continues to encourage political parties and electors to remain engaged and informed throughout the process by visiting district offices or consulting the Commission’s website for updates and essential information.