St Philip constituencies hit by missing voter names

Dozens of voters in St Philip South and St Philip West were unable to cast their ballots on Wednesday morning after their names were found missing from the official voters’ list, prompting frustration at several polling stations. 

 

At least four presiding officers across the two constituencies confirmed instances in which individuals were unable to vote because their names did not appear on the voters’ list.

 

At polling station PK2 (I to Z) at Princess Margaret Secondary School in St Philip West, presiding officer Allison Headley-Callender reported that by 11:30 a.m. a total of 79 people — 31 males and 48 females — had voted. But during the first five-and-a-half hours of voting, two electors were turned away, she said. 

 

In one case, the voter said they had received correspondence from the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) stating that they were registered at that polling station, where they had voted in the previous general election. Despite this, their name was not on the list. In the second instance, Headley-Callender said the voter claimed he had registered just two days earlier and therefore was also not listed. Both individuals were advised to check the EBC’s master list.

 

St Philip West is expected to be among the more hotly contested constituencies, with Democratic Labour Party (DLP) stalwart Dr David Estwick challenging incumbent Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate Kay McConney. Also contesting the seat are Karina Goodridge of Friends of Democracy (FOD) and Lynette Eastmond of the People’s Coalition for Progress (PCP).

 

Another presiding officer at Princess Margaret Secondary School, Bridgette Marshall-Griffith, described the early morning voter turnout between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. as “steady”, noting that a traditional rush was expected later in the day between 3:30 p.m. and the 6 p.m. close of polls.

 

 

Marshall-Griffith also reported two cases in which voters were turned away because their names were not on her list. In one instance, a voter said he had lived at the same residence all his life but was unable to vote due to his name being absent. In another case, a couple who had relocated from St George to St Philip West encountered difficulties; while the wife’s name appeared on the list, her husband’s did not.

 

George Browne, presiding officer for Box PK1 (N to Z), said: “Early this morning between 6 and 8 a.m. it was pretty heavy but as the day progressed, it was lessened.”  

 

He added: “We had two incidents where the persons weren’t on the list and they were asked to check the master list, but I am not certain if they were able to locate their names, but they were not on this list. There is a possibility they could have been on another list.”

 

Another presiding officer, Hilda McGeary, who has responsibility for Box PK1 (E to M) in St Philip West, described voting at her station as “quiet”. She reported one case involving a young woman who arrived without physical identification. Although an EBC copy of her identification was not available at the polling station, McGeary said the voter’s name was on the list and she had photographs of both sides of her ID card on her mobile phone, allowing her to vote.

 

There are ten polling stations in the St Philip West constituency, with two located at Princess Margaret Secondary School at Six Roads. The school is also scheduled to serve as the counting station.

 

In neighbouring St Philip South, similar issues were reported. At the polling station located at the Faith New Testament Church of God in Kirton’s, presiding officer Annette Campbell described the early morning voting as “a steady stream”.

 

Campbell, who is overseeing the H to Z section of Box PF3, confirmed at least one case in the morning in which an elector was not allowed to vote because their name did not appear on the voters’ list.  

 

“Once your name is not on this list, we recommend that you call the EBC or check the master list online,” she said.

 

Campbell, who has worked on three elections in the constituency, explained that a master list was not housed at her polling station, but noted that one could possibly be located at a nearby station within the constituency. Naomi Brathwaite was the other presiding officer at the polling station. (IMC)