By Mishael Henry, Tamika Garnett and Raywattie Deonarine
From early bird voters racing to be the first at the polls to first-timers buzzing with excitement and even those who crossed miles or overcame past hurdles just to make their mark, Monday’s General and Regional Elections in Guyana saw several spirited voters coming out to vote, each with their own special reason to celebrate casting their ballots.
In Region Three, at a polling station at the Patentia Secondary School, 39-year-old Patricia Smith could not stop smiling and showing how happy she was to finally be voting again, since last voting in 2006.
Speaking with Guyana Times just a short distance from her polling station, Smith said that although there were elections in 2011, 2015, and 2020 after she last voted, she was unable to participate in any of them due to issues with her birth certificate. She noted that she was born in Wakapo, Region One (Barima-Waini), an interior location.
“I felt so excited voting,” Smith said as she giggled and held up her marked right index finger, displaying that she had completed the casting of her ballot.
She commended the process for having been a smooth and effortless occasion.
“For my second time voting, the process was very good; everything was normal,” she said.
At the Nismes Secondary School, voter Adessa Liverpool shared that she travelled all the way from the Imbamadai Backdam in the Upper Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Region Seven, just to make it to the polls.
“I have some grandchildren, and I [have to] think about their future ahead, so I had to make it a priority coming out of the interior just to do this. I’m a proud granny,” Liverpool commented.
Liverpool was accompanied to the polls by her husband, who had misplaced his National ID Card; however, Liverpool noted that they planned to visit some of the polling stations where he used to live to see if he is on any of the lists.
In Guyana citizens can still vote on Elections Day, even if they do not have their National ID Cards. This is allowed since the GECOM staff are in possession of a folio which includes the voter’s particulars as well as a picture of the voter. Voters voting without an ID simply need to take an “Oath of Identity” at their polling station. The oath is administered by the presiding officer, who manages the polling station.
Over in Region Six, many voters made the extra special effort to be the first ones at the polls when polling stations all across the country opened at 6am. At a polling station at the Tutorial Academy High School (TASS), Holis Amsterdam was first in line after having left home at 04:30h to make her way to her polling station. According to Amsterdam, that’s a regular practice for her, and she encouraged all voters to get out and vote as early as they can.
“I always like to be the first voter every time there is an election. I left home at 04:30 this morning, and when I got here, there wasn’t anyone here yet. I want to encourage everyone to come out early, cast your vote and go home and catch your rest,” Amsterdam shared.
Across at another polling station at TASS, Vincent Barker was the first voter at his polling station; he left home at 04:15h. He also commended the effortless process.
“Everything was smooth,” he said.
A voter with a disability, Ryan Bannister, who voted at a polling station at the Providence Primary School in Region Four, was grateful that special arrangements were put in place to ensure he had an easy process. Bannister, who is also a first-time voter, was given priority in the voting queue and was assisted to ensure he was able to exercise his franchise.
“It’s the first time I’m voting, and the voting was fast. As soon as I got there, they carried me right away and gave me my paper,” he noted.
Another voter with a disability, and first-time voter, 20-year-old Edon Singh of Charity Region Two proudly cast his ballot at the Charity Primary School. Singh shared that while he felt nervous at first, the process turned out to be smooth and easy.
“When I entered and saw how it was, I got less nervous. Everyone was kind,” he said.
Being the first time in his life that he has voted, Singh described the occasion as being a historic moment for him.
Another first-time voter, Ayeesha Mohamed, was out at the polls with her husband, who is also a first-time voter. She voted at the La Grange Primary School in Region Three and was glad that her first experience was such a good one.
“This was my first time voting, and it felt really good. It felt very independent and very good to have a right to vote. The process was very quick and easy, and I got through very fast,” Mohamed said.
Another first-timer, eighteen-year-old Aliyah Anderson, said, “I’m happy to get the experience and see how it was. It was very good.”