Georgetown, Guyana – August 2025 – Explosive allegations are emerging that officers in the Disciplined Services are being pressured to show proof of their votes for the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Reports suggest that some officers were instructed to photograph their ballots inside polling stations, an action that directly violates the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) strict ban on cell phone use during voting.
The development has sparked outrage just days after GECOM announced stringent measures to safeguard ballot secrecy. These measures included designated phone-drop areas, large notices prohibiting phones in voting booths, and penalties of up to G$65,000 and six months’ imprisonment for offenders. If verified, the allegations would not only highlight weak enforcement of GECOM’s rules but also point to a deeper and more troubling issue, vote-buying and coercion at the highest levels.
Sources claim that officers were allegedly offered financial incentives or promises of promotion if they delivered votes for the PPP. In exchange, they were reportedly told to provide photographic evidence of their ballots, undermining the principle of secret voting enshrined in Guyana’s electoral laws.
Opposition figures are warning that this practice represents an assault on democracy, calling it “a direct attack on free and fair elections.” Civil society leaders are also demanding answers from GECOM, insisting that immediate investigations be launched into whether officers are being bribed or coerced.
With the General and Regional Elections less than two weeks away, the allegations have heightened concerns about accountability and transparency. GECOM’s credibility is now under intense scrutiny, and the public is asking whether the Commission can truly ensure a level playing field.
If substantiated, the allegations could destabilize confidence in the entire electoral process, with lasting consequences for Guyana’s fragile democracy.
