Hinterland offices equipped with Starlink, backup Internet for real-time election results upload – GECOM

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is capitalising on the introduction of Starlink internet to Guyana to enhance connectivity at its hinterland offices as the elections body gets ready to introduce the real-time uploading and display of election results on the GECOM website following the close of polls for the September 1 General and Regional Elections.
This was revealed by Deputy Chief Elections Officer Aneal Giddings during a media engagement at the Regency Suites on Saturday.
Given the challenges with reliable Internet in Guyana, particularly in hinterland regions, concerns have arisen about the reliability of the incremental uploading of Statement of Polls (SoPs) immediately as they are being tabulated. However, Giddings assured that GECOM has been assessing the situation and implementing measures to address it.
“Our technical teams have done a risk analysis for all of the offices, and I must say that I think we’ve evolved a little with the introduction of Starlink internet. All of our hinterland offices have that. It has proven to be more or less reliable. We are also exploring the option of backup Internet devices so that if there is a failure of the Internet on the day or at the time, we should be able to recuperate,” Giddings explained.
In an upgrade to what obtained at previous elections, where voters had to wait for slow and intermittent result updates, this GRE will see each individual SoP uploaded in real time to the GECOM website as each district’s Returning Officer (RO) or Supernumerary RO (SRO) tabulates them.
According to Giddings, the elections body has also explored a number of other options, to ensure the fast output of intermittent results even as the country waits for the overall official results and GECOM declaration.
“There are some other mechanisms in place, that for security reasons I wouldn’t reveal here – that is intended to protect, secure and ensure the reliability and efficiency of our system. We don’t have a perfect system, but I do think we are going to try our very best and leave no stone unturned in ensuring that this remains considering its importance,” Giddings related.
Six political parties will be contesting the GRE – the current ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C); the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); Alliance For Change (AFC); We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) and the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP).
A total of 2970 polling stations are scheduled to be established in the various regions across the country to allow voters to exercise their franchise. Each polling station will be managed by a Presiding Officer (PO), who will count the ballots at the polling station.
The election results at the polling station are then recorded on the SoP, a copy of which is submitted to the Deputy ROs (DRO) and Supernumerary DROs (SDRO), who will then transmit the SoPs to the RO and Supernumerary ROs (SRO).
All of the SoPs from across a voting district are then tabulated by the RO or SRO. The RO will be assisted by a data entry clerk, who will input the numbers into a tabulation sheet. The tabulation will be taking place on site at the RO’s office in the region, and will be observed by election agents of each party in addition to international and local observers.
Once the tabulation is completed, the RO is empowered to make a results declaration for their region.