New ballot boxes for referendum

When Vincentians go the polls in two months time to decide whether or not to adopt the proposed constitution or keep the old one, their YES or NO answers will be deposited in what can be considered internationally approved ballot boxes.{{more}}

Supervisor of Elections Sylvia Findlay-Scrubb, in an interview with Searchlight last week, indicated that the new boxes are the type used in other countries during elections and referendum votes.

“If anybody has watched footage of elections throughout the world, this is what is used. It is not something we are reinventing here. This is the international norm.”

The new self-locking, tamper proof ballot boxes, which are being supplied by Code Incorporated of Canada, are colored in the neutral United Nations Blue, as requested by the electoral office as a sign of impartiality, Findlay-Scrubb indicated.

Code Incorporated of Canada has been supplying electoral equipment to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for previous elections.

Findlay-Scrubb indicated that concerns were raised about the old wooden boxes which she said had served their time.

“These wooden boxes were too small. There were issues that some boxes were difficult to lock and unlock, and generally these boxes had outlived their usefulness.” She said.

Vincentians go to the poll on November 25th to answer the question: “Do you approve the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution Bill 2009, passed in the House of Assembly on the 3rd September 2009, to provide a new constitution for St. Vincent and the Grenadines?” (JJ)