The credibility of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is again under intense scrutiny following revelations of an eyebrow-raising anomaly in the official gazetted results dated September 16, 2025 for the 2025 General and Regional Elections. In what observers are calling statistically improbable, if not outright impossible, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is recorded as receiving the exact same number of votes—9,938—in both Region 9 and Region 10. The gazetted information dated September 16, 2025 was signed by GECOM Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud.
Adding to the alarm, a tallying concern has emerged for Region 10: when one adds up the votes from the parties listed in the gazetted data — 5,334 (APNU) + 210 (AFC) + 85 (ALP) + 662 (Forward Guyana Movement) + 9,938 (PPP/C) + 10,454 (WIN) — the total equals 26,683, which is far greater than the 21,009 figure reported by GECOM in the same official gazetted data for Region 10. This glaring mismatch implies either a massive counting error or deliberate misreporting.
Public scrutiny of GECOM is intensifying. This publication has already documented several discrepancies in Region 8 results, and now with these gazetted anomalies — including two regions showing identical vote counts for PPP/C and the severe mismatch in Region 10 totals — many are demanding answers.
This unusual occurrence, documented as legal and final in the official gazette, was brought to national attention last evening on a broadcast by the Forward Guyana Movement. Analysts, political commentators, and members of the public are now questioning how such a numerical coincidence passed the scrutiny of a national electoral body entrusted with protecting the democratic process.
“This is not just a clerical error,” one political observer stated. “It’s a statistical red flag. The odds of two large electoral districts reporting the exact same vote tally for the same party, down to the last digit, are virtually nonexistent.”
The scandal has intensified ongoing concerns about GECOM’s transparency, competence, and impartiality, concerns that have dogged the institution since before the polls closed.
This publication has previously reported several discrepancies in the Region 8 results, and now with this latest gazetted figure, enshrined in law, it raises fresh doubts over the integrity of the entire electoral process.
Norton Demands Recount; Accuses GECOM of Suppression and Collusion
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) presidential candidate Aubrey Norton prior to the September 6 declarations, had accused GECOM of gross negligence and possible collusion. In a formal letter to GECOM Chairperson Claudette Singh, Norton alleged that election officials failed in their duties, leading to what he described as a deliberate attempt to suppress the will of the electorate. Norton had requested a national recount before any declaration, but Singh replied that he should file an election petition in court instead.
In his letter, Norton listed multiple alleged procedural failures, including:
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Statements of Poll (SoPs) unsigned for ballot boxes #40711, 40728, 40792, 41003, and 41005
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SoPs not provided to polling agents for boxes #40736, 40835, 40857, 40949, 41048, and 40910
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Incomplete documentation for boxes #40694, 40697, 40951, and #414037
These issues, according to Norton, were observed during the tabulation process on September 2 in Regions 4 and 5, under the watch of both local and international observers.
Inconsistency in Discarding vs Accepting Ballots; Alleged Tampering
Norton also claims that GECOM applied inconsistent standards in validating ballots — accepting some questionable PPP/C votes while rejecting APNU votes on technical grounds. Among other allegations are failures to verify official ballot stamps and serial numbers. In addition, there are accusations of tampering with several ballot boxes, including boxes EC 80004, EC 80009, EC 80013, EC 80022, and EC 80019.
Trust Eroded; Calls for Transparency Grow Louder
The September 16 gazette, with its duplicated vote totals and Region 10 mismatches, has upped the pressure on GECOM. Civil society groups, opposition parties, and election observers are demanding:
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A forensic audit of the Region 9 and Region 10 results
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A full accounting of all Statements of Polls, properly signed and distributed
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Verification of stamps and serial numbers on ballots
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Consideration of a national recount or judicial review
As one observer put it, “This is not just about numbers — it’s about whether Guyana can trust its electoral processes. At this stage, that trust is severely shaken.”
Why Every Vote Matters Under Guyana’s Proportional Representation System
Guyana’s electoral system combines geographical constituencies (regional seats) with a national top‑up list to allocate National Assembly seats using closed‑list proportional representation. There are 65 seats in total: 25 are allocated among the ten geographic regions (administrative regions) and 40 seats are assigned nationally based on the total number of votes each party receives country‑wide through the Hare quota and largest remainder method.
Because the presidency is tied directly to which party list wins the most votes nationally (plurality of the list), and because parliamentary majorities are determined via national vote shares plus these top‑up seats, every vote in every region has the potential to tip the scales—one vote can swing which party holds the presidency and which controls Parliament.
This story is developing. We will continue to monitor for responses from GECOM, the Chairperson, and other officials.
