Regular contributor to BU who submits under the moniker of Bush Tea has questioned the electoral process of Barbados which requires Polling Officers on ‘voting day’ to record the National Identification Number (NID) of the voter on the ballot paper. This is an old concern which always surfaces at election time. How valid is Bush Tea’s concern and is this a feature of our Electoral System which Barbadians should agitate to change. Some of the questions and observations which Bush Tea and others have tabled overtime:
Where else is this done?
Why was it started?
How do we know that this information is not used to victimize voters who may have voted on the ‘wrong’ side of an election?
Is this how Boards are selected?
We may as well vote by show of hands. It is a system that lends itself to DICTATORSHIP. Even my sports club vote by SECRET ballot to avoid victimization etc.
Are Bajans happy with this situation?
Can we hear from the Supervisor of Elections?
The official reason offered for recording the NID over the years has been to suggest that in the event of a challenge to an election result the Court System can easily investigate the legitimacy of the vote. We assume that if such were to occur it would be managed with the utmost caution and such a case would be processed ‘in camera’ away from the glare of the public. It seems to BU that many of the organs which make-up our system of government are built on conventions, and the fragility of our democracy can easily be exposed if strong-minded individuals occupy key positions in the country. Most systems will require some changes from time to time; we do live in an environment which is constantly changing. Does BT have a legitimate concern? The best defense which we can make to those who question the current system of voting is to suggest that our Judicial System has been exemplary over the years and has served us well. Our political leaders and parties on both sides have served us well. Our people have been well educated and have always walked the high road when they have had to resolve conflict. Don’t forget that our electoral system accommodates observers from both sides in the electoral process. It is up to them to understand the weaknesses and to apply the appropriate due-diligence.
So what are we afraid of Bush Tea et al?
Here is a high level view of the voting process on Election Day:
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Each voter (also called an elector) receives a form shortly before an election in their constituency; it gives the location of their polling station.
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Each elector presents his/her identification card to officials at the polling station, who checks off the name of the voter against the electoral register and issue the voter a ballot paper – The NID is recorded on the counterfoil of the ballot paper before delivery to the voter – added by BU
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Electors vote by putting an X on the ballot form against the name of the candidate they want to represent them, and then placing the ballot paper in a sealed box. (Any other mark or comment on the paper render it invalid.)
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When polling closes, the ballot boxes are collected from each polling station in the constituency and taken to a central point. There the seals are checked before the boxes are opened and the votes for each candidate are counted.
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When the counting finishes, the results of voting in that constituency are announced by the returning officer, who declares the winner of the election.
Source: Vote Barbados
Several politicians, both current and past, along with civil servants and knowledgeable citizens visit BU. This is an opportunity to discuss an issue which some people describe as a ‘hot potato’. Who will touch it?
Straight talk // December 23, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Bimbro:
When they used it at the last UK election to check voter fraud in some London constituencies did you write to The Times to register your objection.
How else can the police investigate abuses if there is no paper trail?
Come up with a viable alternative or shut up.
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I’m not replying to a foul-mouthed ***tard.
That’s my opinion and I’m sticking by it!!!! I don’t think I’m the only one of that opinion, so you know what to do with yourself!!!!
Bush tea I am having some difficulty in following your contention and concerns about the NID on the ballot.
1: Is the NID recoreded on the Ballot paper? I am refering to the portion that i will take to the Booth with me to place my X.
2: If not is it recorded on the stub?
3: Is there a unique number that ties each stub to a ballot paper?
I cannot recall what a ballot paper looks like and cannot recall ever having anything written on it by the person handing it to me.
Our recollection is that the NID is recorded on the counterfoil of the ballot which has a unique number that matches the ballot paper which the voter drops into the Ballot Box.
Exactly the UK system, David.
If both kept seperate and secure, no problem.
Adrian H,
The process is exactly as David explains. In an ideal world, we could all vote by show of hands and there would be ‘no problem.’
If guns and bullets are kept properly apart and secure, no one would ever be shot.
I do not really care what the UK does Straight talk, ….talk is that for years you folks took baths only once per week and sex was a fortnightly routine… more recently we discovered that national honours up there are sold to the highest bidders etc. Not exactly models for us down here….
Facts are:
1. If democracy is to be the foundation of the society, then my vote MUST be sacrosanct.
2. This is too important to be left to the ‘good judgment’ of power hungry politicians.
3. It is TOTALLY UNNECESSARY except for the sinister undermining of democracy.
4. The ‘paper trail’ excuse is groundless. Nothing is gained by being able to determine WHO voted in a particular way EXCEPT for sinister underhand schisms in the population.
The ‘paper trail’ is adequate up to the point where the NID is placed on the counterfoil, BUT THIS NEED NOT BE TIED TO THE BALLOT.
This is so obvious to me that it is difficult to see ‘the other side’ of the argument…
Just to follow up on the point made by the other Adrian (L)
Here we have a situation where our politicians have steadfastly REFUSED to pass integrity Legislation – which is intended to prevent them from thiefing and accepting bribes.
We all know that they do this routinely.
But they can routinely introduce dubious ‘integrity rules’ for the voting public that compromises the secrecy of each person’s vote, and provides clear opportunity for illegal exploitation by unscrupulous persons.
…and almost to a man we are unaware of the situation.
If we are now aware, and willing to accept this situation – then we deserve whatever we get as a nation…. Just like the British deserved the puppy they had licking around behind George Bush these last eight years.
HERE COMES THE POLITICS OF NASTINESS BLP STYLE
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The Barbados Labour Party’s strategy will be the politics of nastiness. hey have already notified their candidates ti look for dirt on every DLP candidate and if they do not find any, hatch as much of it as they can. They can always operate on the borderline in order to get the undiscerning to buy into their strategy. Money has already been identified as the single largest determinant to the outcome of the election in January 2008. Working class neighbourhoods like Wotton, Lodge road, Parish Land, Ellerton, Deacons, Fairy Valley, Church Village among several others have already been identified to be the recipients of this money. It has been drawn to our attention that persons have in fact been receiving vouchers in places such as Deacons and other st. Michael communities. The youth are further identified as the focused group for them to manipulate with cash.
The Barbados Labour Party does not care how it wins. It intends to subvert the process by any means necessary. BARBADOS MUST PUT ON ITS SHIELD OF ARMOUR against this advancing evil. They are many in that party who are evil. Do not let them fool you now. They who must uphold the law are the chief ones who are breaking the law. Then do you wonder why our society is so mashed up.
SAY NO TO BARBADOS LABOUR PARTY CORRUPTION.
Wishing in vain said;
It has been drawn to our attention that persons have in fact been receiving vouchers in places such as Deacons and other st. Michael communities. The youth are further identified as the focused group for them to manipulate with cash.
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I’m amazed to hear that such a thing could happen in Bim. Bribery by gifts/vouchers to vote a certain way in a general election! I really assumed that the Barbados electoral system had advanced beyond that stage, ages ago. Seems I may have been wrong. Scandalous! I know where I’d tell a politician offering me such bribes to put them but I can see that less well off people could be vulnerable to being persuaded. A scandalous, state of affairs!
So what would happen if you asked them not to write your ID # on the stub? would they not allow you to vote? is it illegal?
I am really stunned…I had no idea that this actually was done..Now I’m certain that my suspicions were justified when, several years ago, I voted for the first time and was told thereafter, that I had not voted as expected. I wondered about that statement, now I know. The “problems” soon started for me, they came offering their services, with conditions, but I was stronger than THEY expected. I was prepared to fight. Some are now dead but some are still alive; today I can look at them and laugh. They made threats, to me and my friends, the weaker ones they were able to run them off but I was neither needy nor easily frightened. Their actions only showed me how pitifully low and desperate they were. I pity people, particularly women, who are not strong, who have no moral or social support and few options..
Victimization has always been a way of life, a means to an end for certain people in Barbados and will continue to be so, if it’s not made public in every instance>
No wonder he talks about the foreign investors, up to recently he was stuffing his head up the behind on the likes of the Michael Paynter’s, Dereck Smith’s and the Tabor’s, Ron Joyce etal and that elite clan courting them to hope they can give him enough money to buy an election result.
No wonder these elite can get any and everything that they request of him so long as he gets paid money to the St .Peter Development funds for his and his wife’s use to keep her family out of prison instead of helping the people of this island, there is so much the millions that this group has donated could do for the betterment of the nation instead it is set aside as his and his wife’s slush fund.
Instead of wining and dining with this rich and famous clan he should be addressing the blockage of beach access at COLONY CLUB with their barrier, that these same ones that he is taking money from to tell them to stop breaking the laws and remove these blockages.
Yes Princess E, this has been done since introduced by none other than Tom himself…. no doubt for a honest legal reason (ha ha ha)
This is not really a reflection on the politicians though… it is an condemnation on a people who would allow themselves to be urinated on in this way…
It is so fundamental a travesty that it is no wonder that this country has reached the stage where while these ‘leaders’ tell us that we have never had it so good, we can all see that we are being over run with foreigners – both of the rich white and the poor despairing types….
we drive along the most beautiful coast in the whole world and can only see the huge fences for foreigners who have to give us a pass by their fence to get a sea bath.
We can not go out at night without being in fear of our ‘choke and rob’ guests to the island..
..it all starts with a laid back approach to fundamental issues like SECRET BALLOTS..
…and people ALWAYS get what they deserve…