LGE 2023: PPP/C, APNU tie at Plegt Anker/Kortberaadt NDC following recount

– APNU seeks legal process on acceptance of tendered ballots

A recount requested by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the Plegt Anker/Kortberaadt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has resulted in a tie with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which had initially secured a five-vote win.
Now, the Opposition party wants to challenge the decision by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to count five tendered ballots that were issued to persons who voted for the PPP/C.

The APNU Opposition is challenging GECOM’s decision to add five tendered ballots to the PPP/C votes for Constituency 4 of the Plegt Anker/Kortberaadt NDC.
During a press conference in New Amsterdam on Saturday, APNU’s Constituency Candidate Deodan Ramdatt insisted he won the First Past the Post System by 32 votes compared to the 27 votes obtained by the PPP/C Candidate, Odesh Tamborine.
These figures were confirmed by GECOM’s publication of results from Local Authority Areas (LAAs).
However, the PPP/C subsequently asked for a recount, which was held at GECOM’s New Amsterdam office on June 14.
APNU’s Regional Coordinator, Kirk Fraser, said APNU has taken a decision not to accept the recount results provided by GECOM for that specific NDC. He is calling for another recount.
“At that recount what transpired there it would have shown that there were five tendered ballots that were issued by the PO [Presiding Officer] at that particular polling station. Those five ballots were then added to the legal ballots that were placed in the ballot box. At the recount the tendered ballots were not placed in the ballot box,” Fraser told the media.
He related that at that point, he objected, saying that tendered ballots are not counted at elections.
“We held our position saying that we would not accept tendered ballots to be added to the tally,” he added. Fraser made reference to an incident on March 2, 2020, where the tendered ballots were not counted in the Hogsty/Lancaster NDC which is also in Region Six.
Meanwhile, GECOM’s decision to add the five tendered ballets to the PPP/C’s votes has pushed the ruling party’s tally for that constituency to 32, thus creating a tie with APNU.
“What we are saying is that we will be moving on to the legal aspect of this so that we can have a final determination.”
Moreover, APNU on Saturday refused to participate in the declaration of the Local Government Elections results for Region Six, arguing that tendered ballots are not legal.
“We don’t know who would have voted on the tendered ballots but we asked to have a view of the poll book to see when this incident would have occurred because the poll book would give us a clear indication as to the time when this was done and this should be reported to the Returning Officer.”
Fraser further added that the poll book has no indication as to the time those tendered ballots were issued.
This publication understands GECOM is claiming that the tendered ballots were issued when the officer in charge of the polling station was in the washroom and they were the first five ballots to be issued as authentic ballots.
“A tendered ballot is a ballot issued to a perceived voter who does not reach certain basic requirements. For example, one may vote before and just to appease the voter they are issued with a tendered ballot so that that they can feel that they would have participated in the process,” Fraser explained.
This system has been allowed because of the possibility of the polling officer making an error. (G-4)