In recognition of the need to tabulate, certify and announce accurate results of elections in a timelier manner, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is exploring the possibility of embarking on a pilot project in which automatic scanning and tabulation machines could be used in a future election.
Accordingly, a team of representatives of the DELIAN Project, an independent, non-profit organisation registered in Canada, and the U.S., visited GECOM last week Monday and conducted a demonstration on the use of automatic ballot scan and tabulation technology.
According to a release from the commission, the DELIAN team comprised of former chief executive officer of the International Foundation of Electoral Systems and DELIAN’s Advisory Board Chairman Jean-Pierre Kingsley, who served as the chief electoral officer of Canada from 1997 to 2010; DELIAN Board of Director Chairman John Hollins, who was chief electoral officer for the Province of Ontario form 2001 to 2008, and Managing Director Allan Best.
The DELIAN Project was created in 2011 as a philanthropic entity by the Canadian elections technology firm Dominion Voting Systems (DVS). The DELIAN Project procures and donates electoral technology to emerging and growing democracies. DELIAN is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, and recently joined the Clinton Global Initiative.
At the demonstration, it was pointed out that the DELIAN Project could donate up to 25 paper-based, automatic ballot scan and tabulation machines to Guyana for a future election. Each machine can handle roughly 1000-1250 voters on a typical polling day. The automatic ballot scan and tabulation system could be deployed on a pilot basis at up to 25 polling stations at a future election, as selected by GECOM.
The procedure for using the automatic ballot scan and tabulation system involves the voter simply using pen and paper to mark his/her intent on the ballot, and the voter’s ballot paper being confidentially scanned and dropped into a sealed ballot box.
Efficiency
At the close of polls, results are tabulated and the statement of poll is printed and shared with polling station officials, and then sent to the returning officer through a secure, electronic medium. In the case of an unclear mark, the ballot scan and tabulation machine returns the ballot to the voter for review and correction, if desired. Finally, the returning officer electronically collates and tabulates poll results received from the multiple machines to rapidly and accurately produce consolidated poll results. Of importance, it must be noted that the ballot paper can be used to complete an audit trail if a manual recount becomes necessary.
During their three-day visit to Guyana, the DELIAN Project representatives also met with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, (PPP/C), the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC). They also visited Leguan and Wakenaam islands to get a feel of the type of terrain in which the machines could be put to use in any pilot project. Guyana’s election laws do not currently provide for the use of electronic voting systems. Hence, the laws would have to be amended accordingly, should there be agreement between GECOM and the bona fide political parties pertaining to any introduction of the automatic ballot scan and tabulation systems in Guyana.
Witnessing the demonstration which was conducted in the GECOM boardroom were GECOM chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, commissioners Sandra Jones and Arun Mangar, acting Chief Election Officer Calvin Benn, acting Deputy Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and technical staff from the commission’s Information Technplogy Division. Subsequent to its visit to Guyana, the DELIAN Project team conducted another demonstration to a wider audience during the seventh annual general meeting of the Association of Carribean Electoral Organisations (ACEO), which was held under the chairmanship of Dr Surujbally in Paramaribo, Suriname on January 16-17.
