BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN an effort to sensitise nationals, citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis on the laws that govern the Registration of Voters, SKNVibes has decided to publish a series of articles leading up to the impending General Elections.
The first of these articles will speak to the process in having one’s address changed from the place where one used to live in a given constituency.
Also, for example, it should be noted that even if an individual were living at Lot 10 Lewis Lane, New Pond Site and had removed to Lot 12 Caunt Street, Newtown, although the two addresses would be within Constituency One, that individual can no longer be found at the former place of abode and should have it rectified to avoid objections.
In recent times, every day an advertisement is being aired on radio stations in the Federation advising constituents that it is an offence to vote where they do not live, even if they were told by politicians to do so.
To violate this electoral law, one is liable to a fine not exceeding EC$30 000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both. Therefore, pay heed and do not be misled.
Address Changing Process
The process in having one’s address changed is very simple.
Al you need to do is go the Electoral Office and inform one of the employees that you are there to have your address changed. The employee will then provide you with a form upon which you will state your name and new address, among other details. Should you encounter any problem while filling the form or need an explanation pertaining to some aspect on the form, the employee will render assistance on request.
On completion of filling the form, you will have to produce your voter’s identification card to the employee who will immediately return same after recording some details.
You will then be told that a registered mail will be sent to you, which has to be uplifted from the post office, within which you will see a yellow slip of paper that has to be taken to the Electoral Office.
On arrival at the office and on presentation of the yellow slip of paper, your photograph will be taken and you will be issued a new voter’s identification card.
This process, according Oliver Knight, Manager of the Electoral Office, the process would “two months”.
False Declaration
Should you pay a visit to the Electoral Office in Central Street, Basseterre, you will see a notice prominently placed beyond the counter warning defaulters what would be the result of making a false declaration.
It reads: “Any person who in the course of compiling any Register of Voters or Monthly list of Revised list makes before a Registration Officer any statement upon oath or any solemn affirmation which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand dollars or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both.”
The next article will outline what a person has to do to get his or her name on the register of voters for the constituency in which he or she lives.
