The Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has formally submitted a motion and draft bill to the Clerk of the National Assembly seeking amendments to the Representation of the Peoples Act, Cap. 1:03, which would require biometric verification of voters at the polls.
The motion, tabled by APNU’s lead parliamentarian, Dr. Terrence Campbell -on November 3- the opening day of the 13th Parliament, proposes using fingerprint or facial recognition technology to verify the identity of every elector before casting a ballot. Campbell said the initiative is intended to “strengthen the integrity and transparency of Guyana’s electoral process.” His call aligns with those of previous Opposition political leaders and civil society groups, who for more than a decade have advocated for greater electoral integrity.
In his submission to the Clerk, Campbell explained that the proposed amendment to Section 69 of the Act aims to “reduce opportunities for voter impersonation, alleviate the financial and logistical burden on smaller political parties, and enhance public confidence in the credibility of national and regional elections.”
Section 69 — which deals with the procedure before a person applies for a ballot paper stipulates:
“Where an applicant to vote hands to the poll clerk both his identity paper and his certificate of employment, the poll clerk shall add his name to the official list of electors or part thereof and shall make an appropriate entry in the poll book.
The poll clerk shall, after the foregoing provisions of this section have been complied with, return to the applicant to vote his identity paper together with any other documents he has received from the applicant and direct him to hand the same to the presiding officer and apply to him for a ballot paper.”
The proposed amendment would insert a new provision requiring biometric verification of each voter by GECOM prior to issuance of a ballot.
The motion, which is accompanied by a draft Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Bill 2025, calls on the Government to work in consultation with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to implement the new measures before the next General and Regional Elections.
According to the text of the motion, “allegations of voter fraud have surrounded every General and Regional Election in Guyana since independence in 1966,” and similar claims affected the 2025 polls, which were “marred by allegations of voter impersonation and other irregularities.”
The motion also highlights that smaller political parties continue to face significant challenges in recruiting, training, and paying scrutineers to monitor the voting process, and that the use of biometric verification could lessen this burden by providing a more secure and efficient system for authenticating voters.
Under the proposed amendment, each elector would be required to produce a voter identification card and submit to biometric verification — either fingerprint or facial recognition — as determined by GECOM, before being issued a ballot.
GECOM’s Operational and Credibility Challenges
The submission of the motion comes at a time when GECOM continues to face scrutiny over its management of the electoral process. Recent elections have been dogged by persistent concerns about administrative efficiency, transparency, and the accuracy of the voters’ list.
Observers and political stakeholders have frequently raised concerns about GECOM’s preparedness, noting recurring problems such as delays in updating the register, inconsistent application of identification procedures, and inadequate mechanisms for preventing voter impersonation.
GECOM has also struggled to modernise its systems, despite repeated calls for reform and technological upgrades. Internal disagreements within the Commission have often hampered decision-making on critical issues such as the introduction of biometric technology, the use of electronic databases, and the verification of foreign nationals eligible to vote.
Dr. Campbell’s motion indirectly addresses these issues, emphasising that the use of biometric technology has “proven effective in many democracies worldwide in preventing voter fraud and ensuring that only duly registered electors cast ballots.” He contends that such reforms would not only improve efficiency within GECOM but also help restore public trust in the institution’s ability to deliver credible elections.
A Call for Timely Legislative Action
The APNU parliamentarian urged the Clerk to ensure the motion and draft bill are circulated to all Members of Parliament and scheduled for debate “at the earliest opportunity.”
If adopted, the amendment would require GECOM to establish the technical, legislative, and administrative framework to operationalise biometric voter verification before the next election cycle.
Campbell’s proposal marks the first formal legislative initiative of the 13th Parliament and sets the stage for renewed debate over electoral reform in Guyana. With public confidence in the elections body still fragile and political divisions running deep, the motion is expected to ignite significant discussion on both sides of the House about how best to modernise Guyana’s voting system and safeguard the integrity of future elections.
