The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIANS who did not register to vote in the general election but wish to vote in the upcoming referendum have until Thursday to do so, according to Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall.

Speaking to The Tribune, Mr Hall said 172,600 people registered to vote in the last elections and that register will apply to the January 28 gaming referendum.

“Those people will not have to register again. If  you lost your voters card and you wish to replace it, you can get a police report and carry it to the parliamentary registrar’s office for further assistance. However, you can still vote with your passport, because your name will still be on the register,” he said.

“But for those who will be registering for the first time, they have until January 10 to do so and then the register will close. Persons leaving the island or who will not be able to vote for medical reasons may be eligible to vote in the advance poll on the 21st. However, we are encouraging those persons to come to apply for early voting as soon as possible so they can be accommodated.

“We have no out stations because we do not expect more then 180,000 names on the register so all registration will be done at the head office. If you do not register you cannot vote.”

Mr Hall said after the polls close on referendum day all results will go to the parliamentary office where the presiding officers will coordinate a final tally sheet.

He said: “We have very experienced presiding officers and we expect no delay in the results. The Minister responsible for elections, who is the Minister of National Security, has the power to appoint local observers. So that means there will be one person present from the ‘Vote No’ campaign, one person from the ‘Vote Yes’ campaign and one independent person at each polling station. I can’t say who those persons will be right now, but it is up to his discretion. After all the voting takes place and the tallying is done, we expect the results to come rather quickly.”

The public will be asked to answer two questions on January 28: ”Do you support the regulation and taxation of Web Shop gaming? and “Do you support the establishment of a National Lottery?”