Dames says more than 12,000 new voters added to the register since 2017

More than 12,000 new voters were added to the voters register since 2017, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said yesterday.

“As of March 2nd, 2021, after purging, there are 187,640 registered persons, which reflects a 6,097 increase or three percent increase of registrants from the 2017 register,” Dames said during the debate of the mid-year budget.

“…That 6,097 doesn’t reflect all new voters. The register obviously would have been adjusted over a period…and persons were taken off for reasons according to law.

“So, it is more in the area of 12,000-plus new voters since 2017 to the present.

“…And so, we are therefore well on our way of completing our process in a timely manner.”

There were 181,000 registered voters in the 2017 election, with a voter turnout of around 88 percent.

Numerous issues plagued the register ahead of the last general election.

The passing of the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Act, 2020, meant that the legal requirements for a five-year register were repealed and a new permanent register came into force.

People registered for the 2017 general election who have not relocated to a different residence for a period of 90 days or more shall remain registered as a voter entitled to vote, unless their names have been removed by the parliamentary commissioner.

Only qualified Bahamians who are not registered on the 2017 register or who have moved to an address different from the one on their purple voters card need to visit a Parliamentary Registration Department center to register or transfer their registration to a new polling division or constituency where they now reside.

Many have questioned how efficiently the registration process for new voters can take place given the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dames assured yesterday that the permanent voters register will be accurate and there will be no voter fraud, as he noted that phase three of the voter registration exercise will begin this month.

He said the parliamentary commissioner will engage in continuous editing of the permanent voter’s registration list; that the register will be continuously purged of the deceased; that new registrants will be added daily and transfers will be processed daily; that incarcerated persons’ voting rights will be suspended and; that scrutineers, who will test the validity of the register, will be deployed to all registration sites.

“And this is what’s important, Mr. Speaker, there will be no hanky panky as long as I have oversight of the Parliamentary Registration Department,” Dames said.

“We will ensure…that only those persons who are legally entitled and eligible to vote in particular areas will be voting.”

Dames said phase three of the registration, which will include pop-up registration in locations such as Gambier Village, Adelaide Village, and various workplaces, is set to begin later this month.

During this phase, evening and Saturday registration exercises will take place in strategic locations such as schools, Dames said.

He said that the introduction of biometric voter cards will further prevent any “hanky panky” in the voting process.

“Biometric technology will be introduced thereby allowing the department to capture unique physical characteristics…so, no hanky pankying on them little purple [cards], dipped finger and all of that,” he said.

“We ain’t fooling with that.

“The data will be used to verify and identify individuals registering to vote.”

Dames added, “With this technology, the Parliamentary Registration Department will not have to ask a person to confirm their identity.

“This is because in a biometric identification system, the individual does not need to claim an identity. His or her biometric features will be captured and compared to the features of all previously captured biometric data stored.

“This technology will serve to improve the integrity of our voter registration process as it will reduce identity theft and hanky pankying.

“…Also, it will eliminate the possibility of voter fraud as it will be used at polling stations to confirm the identity and eligibility of voters.”

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/dames-says-more-than-12000-new-voters-added-to-the-register-since-2017/