The Tribune

By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT

tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net

A FOREIGN mission official has said all did not go well with the advanced polls overseas leaving some Bahamian voters disenfranchised and possibly unable to vote in this year’s general election.

An advanced poll was held yesterday in The Bahamas and also in various countries around the world where there are Bahamian foreign missions. Election workers, senior citizens, military and those living and working abroad were among those eligible to vote in the advanced poll.

The Tribune spoke to several heads of Bahamian foreign missions to see how the process went. Linda Mackey, Consul General in Florida, had concerns, not only about some names that were left off the register, but the number of people who were added to the register after the deadline.

“We had a few voters who were disenfranchised,” said Ms Mackey. “They were approved to vote but their names were not on the register.

“. . .We have concerns about our registry. I was told that Miami’s list was cut off at August 27 and on August 28 I was told our number of registrants was either 119 or 121. Today it was 140. Persons who were approved, their names do not appear on this new registry. That needs to be reconciled.

“We had at least 20 more people added and I don’t know where those names came from and there are others who should have been in that initial count whose names are not on the register.”

Ms Mackey said she doesn’t know where the breakdown occurred and explained the options given to those whose names were not registered.

“Atlanta had the same issue,” she continued. “There are only two options when you come across a situation like that: either vote on a yellow ballot or you have to go to Nassau to vote. For some people on both, that was not an option.

“I know when I voted this morning (Thursday) just before 11 o’clock there were already two persons who were in that situation. Atlanta had already experienced a few of them as well.

“We’re not sure where the breakdown happened, but if you have an approval from the Parliamentary Registration (Department) how can you have an approval and not be on the register is the real question.”

Astra Armbrister-Rolle, Consul General in Atlanta, admitted there were some anomalies but said for the most part, things went smoothly.

“Well when I came in to vote, and I voted fairly early, the process was quite smooth,” Ms Armbrister-Rolle said. “I walked in, was made to sanitise and they made sure that my mask was fitted properly.

“There was a lot of space in the office that they were using for the voting so people could keep their distance. The process for me was quite smooth. You would probably know that as heads of mission we’re not supposed to be involved in the process at all. So I cast my vote and then I left the premises.

“I’m sure that there are reports of anomalies, I’ve heard of one or two of them, but as far as I am aware, the process was well organised and is going smoothly.”

Houston Consul General Lynden Rose said all was going well there at the time when he spoke to The Tribune.

“Everything is going great,” Mr Rose said. “I don’t have the exact numbers, but so far, before I left, there were about 16 people who voted. We had about 30 people register for the advanced polls and so far about half of them have come in so far.

“There was a steady flow because Texas is one of the largest states in America so we are going to have people driving from different places to vote. So I anticipate everyone who has registered would come and take advantage of advanced voting. It will be steady all day.

“We had no hiccups during the day. I think Ms Miller and her team, from the Parliamentary Registrar’s office, has been doing an excellent job so I have no questions that everything will continue to go smoothly for the rest of the day.”

Sidney Collie, Bahamian Ambassador to the United States who is based in Washington, also reported smooth sailing with the advanced poll in his area.

“The polls opened on time at 8am and (are) scheduled to close at 6pm,” Ambassador Collie reported. “The actual polling division was set up at the consul’s office. I went down to vote at 10am and the voting process seemed very smooth.

“The parliamentary team was completely in charge of the voting process, along with the police officers. The numbers while I was there were very light and I suspect everything was fine. I didn’t foresee any problems.

“I think in the Washington area there are just over 50 persons registered to vote. It was very quiet, the team was in place and they are proceeding smoothly.”