National Assembly Debate on Election (Amendment) Bill
~~Adz:Left~~The Chamber welcomes the assurances given from the Government’s side of the National Assembly in the debate on Monday on the Elections (Amendment ) Bill that the Bill will be amended to provide for a new voters’ list by way of a complete re-registration of voters.
The Chamber urges the members of the Assembly to amend also the provision of the Bill which requires that an overseas voter already on the list will remain registered in the constituency in which he or she is presently registered to vote. A complete re-registration affords the opportunity to require overseas voters to register in the constituency in which they were last resident before leaving the Country. This is the requirement of the Bill for new overseas voters who have previously lived in the Country and should apply to all overseas voters who have previously lived here. If not, the abuses of the past in this area will be perpetuated.
The Chamber also welcomes the assurance given from the Government side that registration of voters will not take place at embassies and consulates of St Kitts and Nevis. The Chamber also urges the Government to publish the draft Regulations in advance of the next sitting of the Assembly. Without the Regulations it is not possible to assess the true and full effect of the legislation. The Chamber expects that the Regulations will rectify, in a meaningful way, the loose procedural arrangements now in place for the registration of voters and provide for the same rules to apply for all persons seeking to register.
The Chamber also reiterates the imperative for a Voter Identification or National Identification Card to be produced by voters on Election Day. Moreover, it is felt by the Chamber that (a) no substitute I.D. should be acceptable; and (b) provisions should be made for persons who require replacement cards to obtain same speedily.
