The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) yesterday reported “a lot of people” coming in to exercise their democratic rights as special voters in San Fernando and at its head office at Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, ahead of today’s closure of special voting in those areas.
The situation was briefly confirmed by EBC chief elections officer Ramesh Nanan yesterday.
Speaking to the T&T Guardian by telephone, Nanan said all EBC systems were ready for Monday’s general election.
On special voting, which began on September 1, Nanan said the total number of special voters was 18,727. He could not say how much of this figure had so far voted. He, however, said EBC had noted large numbers voting in San Fernando and the EBC’s Frederick Street head office.
EBC stations established at Frederick Street, San Fernando and Tobago for special voters close at 3 pm today, he added.
He said there had also been no major complaints in the voting exercise so far.
Also contacted yesterday, People’s National Movement (PNM) general secretary Ashton Ford said the party had received no complaints of any problems with special voters. UNC secretariat officials were unavailable.
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Carl Alfonso, speaking to T&T last evening, said all upgraded security measures were being implemented for Monday’s general election activities across T&T.
He said all police officers have been recalled from leave and supplementary Defence Force personnel were expected to be in the system within the next 24 hours.
“You will be seeing a higher presence of security personnel on the ground and roving in areas ensuring that everyone is comfortable to cast their ballot wherever in the country they may be,” he said.
He assured that systems will also be in place for tomorrow’s rallies by the bigger political parties at the Aranguez Savannah, San Juan, (People’s Partnership) and Eddie Hart Savannah, Tacarigua (PNM).