PNCR Ups Calls for Modern Voter Verification System

By Mark DaCosta-The PNCR has again raised concerns about the effectiveness of the current voter verification process, calling for an overhaul that includes the adoption of biometric technology. The party argues that the existing system, reliant on outdated and inadequate photographs, leaves the electoral process vulnerable to errors, fraud, and manipulation. This call comes in the wake of a press conference by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson on November 22, which failed to address the party’s longstanding concerns regarding the electoral roll and verification system.

The primary issue highlighted by the PNCR is the use of photographs taken sixteen years ago, during the 2008 house-to-house registration exercise, to verify voters at the polls. The photographs, small, blurry, and often unclear, form the basis for manual facial recognition checks on Election Day. According to the PNCR, such a system is both outdated and unreliable, making it prone to both genuine errors and intentional manipulation.

As they point out in their press statement: “sixteen years of aging would have produced significant changes in how persons look,” with voters from the 2008 exercise now looking vastly different. A teenager who registered in 2008 is now in their 30s, while a person in their 40s then is now in their 60s. These natural changes in appearance, combined with poor-quality photos, lead to the risk of voter impersonation and other forms of electoral fraud.

The issue of voter list accuracy is further compounded by the continued inclusion of deceased individuals and citizens who no longer reside in Guyana. GECOM recently announced that the voter roll has reached 718,715 names, an increase of over 16,000 names from just two years ago. This growth, which could translate into additional parliamentary seats, includes a significant number of names that do not reflect the current population. The PNCR has pointed out that this bloated voter list raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of future elections.

The PNCR has reiterated its call for a clean voters’ list and a modernised, electronic system for voter verification using biometric technology. The party believes that the current manual system, which relies on facial recognition based on old, unclear photos, is an inadequate safeguard against voter fraud and multiple voting. “We reiterate our call for a clean voters list and electronic verification of voters using fingerprint biometrics technology,” the PNCR asserts.

One of the key arguments put forward by the PNCR is that modern biometric technology could significantly improve the security and accuracy of the voter verification process. The party suggests that fingerprint biometrics, in particular, would offer a far more reliable and accurate method of identifying voters, reducing the risk of fraud and ensuring that each vote cast is legitimate.

Furthermore, the PNCR highlights that biometric technology has made significant strides in recent years, making it both accessible and cost-effective for countries to implement. The party argues that GECOM has not taken advantage of these advancements, which could improve the integrity of elections in Guyana.

Guyanese may be aware that internationally, many countries have successfully integrated biometric technologies into their electoral processes to enhance security and reduce fraud.

For example, India’s use of biometric voter registration and identification has been instrumental in maintaining the integrity of elections in the world’s largest democracy. India’s system uses fingerprint and iris (eye) recognition to ensure that each voter is properly identified, helping to prevent duplication and fraudulent voting. Similarly, neighbouring Brazil has implemented biometric voter registration across the country, significantly reducing fraud and improving the overall efficiency of its elections. Kenya, which has faced challenges with election fraud in the past, has also introduced biometric voter identification to improve election security and increase public trust in the process.

The PNCR’s call for the adoption of biometric voter verification aligns with these international best practices. The party believes that implementing modern, electronic voter verification systems will restore public confidence in the electoral process, ensuring that future elections in Guyana are free, fair, and transparent