No voter ID and a bloated list are a recipe for fraudulent election says member of Electoral Reform Group

McKenzie expressed a lack of confidence in the indelible ink which is currently being used. File photo

President of the Dominica Business Forum and member of the Electoral Reform Group, Serverin McKenzie has told  Dominica News Online (DNO) that two political parties have confirmed that they will attend tonight’s panel discussion on electoral reform.

The discussion has been organized by the Electoral Reform Group (a grouping of various sectors of society) on the topic: “Electoral Reform  – Facilitating the verification of identity of persons on the Voter’s Registration Lists to enhance the process of issuing Voter ID Cards as an administrative tool in Sanitizing Voters Registration List.”

McKenzie did not reveal which of three parties that have been invited to take part in the panel discussion, had not yet responded.

 “At least two of them have confirmed their participation and the other one we were awaiting the final confirmation but in the previous consultation that we had with all of them, all of them have in fact indicated that they would be willing to participate in some type of discussion,” McKenzie stated. “The discussion tonight is in fact a follow up from the discussions that we had with the various parties.”

Dominica News Online (DNO) has been able to independently confirm that the United Workers Party (UWP) and The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) have accepted the invitation to participate. The other party that was invited is the Dominica Labour Party.

McKenzie emphasized that the two measures that are critical to free and fair elections are the cleansing of the voters list and issuance of voter ID cards to ensure that voting is free and fair. 

“In view of the panel discussion held last week … the chairman of electoral commission stated that apparently they haven’t got time to do the actual reform before the next general election. So, what we are concentrating on is what can be done under the existing law which clearly makes provision for the issuance of voter ID cards and also for the cleansing of the list under the existing law,” he said.

He said the Commission’s failure to introduce Voter IDs and to cleanse the voter’s list, will give rise to two main concerns: Dominica going into the next general election with the use of the indelible ink as the mechanism which can cause people to vote more than once and Dominica going into the next election with an electoral list that is almost more than population.

“These are the two main concerns that we have in the absence of the Electoral Commission failing to take the necessary measures to sanitize the list and issue identification cards as the population on a whole has been demanding. “

He added with the use of indelible ink, people can come out from the polling station, dip their hand in some type of solution and can go somewhere else and present themselves to vote again.

McKenzie is of the view that going into the next general election with the existing indelible ink and a bloated electoral list will be the recipe for a fraudulent election.

The panel discussion will be held tonight, May 28th at the Dominica Public Service Union (DSPU) from 7pm. 

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35 Comments

  1. ibo france
    May 30, 2019

    Corruption is destroying the soul of the nation. Many supposedly educated Dominicans are selling their souls for thirty pieces of silver. Can someone give me a justifiable answer to this question? How have Mr. Skerrit and many of his hirelings got so filthy rich from a civil servant’s salary? Only corruption can do that. Am I wrong? While the vast majority of citizens catching HELL, Skerrit and his loyal appointees doing well. This is so not right!

  2. Lin clown
    May 29, 2019

    We have had elections for a very long time DUPP never complIned about dead people voting.LABOUR never complained about dead people voting.UWP won election in 1995 with a population of 71,000.With 57,000 registered voters .37,563 voters voted .19,437 did not vote UWP did not complain.In 2000 population 74,429 ,with 60,266 registered voters,36,244 voters voted 24,022 did not vote UWP did not complain they never talked about GHOST and dead people voting Now those incompetent,lazy,lying,uneducated,idiotic,traitorous BLUE.BUGS has lost every election since.They are not blaming their HIGH LEVEL of STUPIDITY for losing.They blaming GHOST and DEAD PEOPLE.Foolish people.

  3. Lin clown
    May 29, 2019

    IF the elections are not FREE and FAIR why is UWP taking part,?UWP know for sure they are going to lose the next election.Looking for a SCAPEGOAT.Lying,lazy,incompetent people.

  4. Jonathan Y St Jean
    May 29, 2019

    Kid On The Block, if the voter’s list is cleansed then the person name will only appear once and in one constituency. All dead people will have their names removed so no chance for someone to go to another polling place and falsely present themselves to vote as a deceased person. Lastly cleaning of the list will remove people who don’t meet the 5-year residency requirement. As such no one can falsely present themselves to vote in the name of someone who is not properly registered. The voter’s id card is to endure that no one presents himself to vote for someone else. There is no need to get all hyped up about something you don’t fully understand. Got it?

    • Gary
      May 29, 2019

      It is very sad reading the nonsense you have written and the recommendations you have made. For you to write such foolishness goes far beyond ignorance, so long.

    • ibo france
      May 30, 2019

      Good response! I’ve come to realize that KID is profoundly naïve; he has a distorted perspective on important national issues.
      *Ignorance is always afraid of change
      *Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.

  5. May 29, 2019

    I agree that we must be proactive when it comes to election reform. But this issue is been made ridiculously complicated by the UWP and its acolytes. The simplest solution at this time would be in addition to the ink have voters to produce a picture ID, a drivers license, passport, ss card would be fine. A voter ID card is considered in some countries as a tool of voter suppression, that’s why in the US many states have declared voter ID laws unconstitutional.

  6. DA Girl
    May 29, 2019

    Re the indelible ink, are you saying that this ink should stay on our fingers for weeks??

  7. Very Scary
    May 29, 2019

    The road ahead is very troubling and disturbing simpy because those we pay to protect us and our democracy are the very ones that are coming after us with guns and soldiers. If they trying to shoot us or scare us you think is our interest they will protect? Yes I am referring to our President, our Police Commissioner and members of his team like Mills and off course the election Commissioner. Let’s assume the dead and CBI nationals voted already through their secret arrangements, where do you think these ballots would be hiding? Can we trust our police to say those ballots cannot be hiding at the police headquarters until election day? Can we trust those lawyers that are on the Election committee to say the not hiding ballots somewhere? Can we trust Charles Savarin to say those ballots are not hiding in the state house that is now being occupied by Skerrit? Sadly none of these guys and offices can be trusted any longer and that’s what makes the way forward so frightening and scary

    • Gary
      May 29, 2019

      You know what makes it scary and frighting, your beliefs and the silly assumptions you make. Making assumptions simply means believing things are a certain way with little or no evidence thinking that you are correct, assume all you want but it does not say you are correct or it’s the truth.

      • Ibo France
        May 30, 2019

        Gary, you have never made a solid point. All your commentaries are hollow. You often criticize someone’s intellectuality when yours is nonexistent. Your ignorance on most consequential issues is so glaringly pathetic.

    • RandyX
      May 30, 2019

      Very well spoken indeed! Imagine that, we pay this government and it’s institutions to protect us and they do exactly the opposite! Let’s kick this corrupt lot out!

  8. Annon
    May 29, 2019

    As long as they are able to get away with their scheme, there will never be a fair and honest election in DA.

  9. Dominica Massive
    May 29, 2019

    Can there be electoral reform without campaign financing?

  10. Truth Offends
    May 28, 2019

    Why should the government be fighting to make stealing legal? People in general spend lots of money just to stop stealing but here our government is doing all in their power to make stealing easier? I just can’t get it! Throughout my life I have been following cricket. I remember when umpires were making bad decisions to influence the result of a game. But see what ICC did to minimize stealing. International games are no longer adjudicated by local umpires and, teams are now able to appeal decisions. Yes they are still not 100% but clearly the ICC has dome their best to make it a fair game. Why is Skerrit and the DLP administration that fighting tooth and nail to make stealing easier? Why is Gerald Burton, who is supposed to be like the umpire of our democracy working so hard to help Skerrit them steal our elections? I just think Dominica would be a much better place without these gangsters man.

  11. Wil
    May 28, 2019

    I mean technology improve but the lis was never cheated. We making people belive our election is not fear.our damn community is small and everybody knows every one .all political party have their spies in the polling station.so relax Mckenzie

  12. Gouvelma
    May 28, 2019

    Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! The only person who doesnt think so are labor supporters. I saw the Bishop calling on Dominicans to love and this and that. Will he make his voice be heard and call on Skerrit and his goons to do all within their power to have free and fair elections? Will he openly call for electoral reform in the lead up to the next elections? Will he call on those who accepted payment to contest for any party to come out and speak out?

  13. %
    May 28, 2019

    I fully support electoral reform!
    Stop the delay!!

  14. Fire born them
    May 28, 2019

    Corrupt Leaders NEVER go out by the ballot. So if we want to stay there talking without acting and then listen to the spiritual politrix of the bishop and think is pray we have to pray, we will be making a serious mistake.
    In the bible we are taught to:
    1. work when we need bread. 2 Thessalonians 3:10
    2. go to the doctor when we sick -Matthew 9:12
    3. However, we are also taught to fight for our Freedom as throughout the history of Israel, we see them involved in all kinds of war to protect their freedom. Here is what Jesus said that I love:

    “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force” Matt. 11:12

    Jesus did not say the violent pray for it to happen. He said the violent TAKE it! So we need to take it back. We cannot stay there talking while satan and his troops are stealing our goods man. That’s wrong! So after this meeting tonight we need to plan on taking it

    • Gary
      May 29, 2019

      Wow, why use your religious beliefs to justify and defend your ignorance regarding such matter.

  15. KID ON THE BLOCK
    May 28, 2019

    From what I am reading from this article my understanding is, neither the Freedom Party, the UWP , and the DLP NEVER won election fairly because nothing has changed since Freedom lost to UWP; UWP lost to DLP. It was the same indelible ink mechanism and electoral list that got ALL THREE PARTIES in power. Electoral Reform would be fine, but…..
    Hope whatever measure that is put in place, the constituent right of a citizen of Dominica is not being violated. No matter that person is in TIMBUCKTO, as a citizen, alive, and on the VOTERS LIST, that person has a right to VOTE.
    Why the emphasis on a special ..VOTERS ID CARD?.
    Why not JUST any picture ID CARD? for proof of identity.
    Mr. Mc Kenzie said one can wash away the ink from his finger and go and vote else where twice. Can’t the same be done even if having a VOTERS ID card? All one has to do is present their voters ID. Once the name and the picture matches , this is it.
    My conclusion is that ..IT TAKES A THIEF TO KNOW A THIEF!

    • ibo france
      May 28, 2019

      I see why you have called yourself KID. Your chronological age classifies you as an adult but your mental age is that of a very young juvenile. Maturity has eluded you. For some unknown reason you got stuck at the very early adolescent stage. Some people are too ignorant; they should make it mandatory that you pass an IQ test before voting. KID, you will fail that test with flying colours.

      • KID ON THE BLOCK
        May 30, 2019

        Ibo MALAPROP France, You make no sense to me!
        If I was seeing things your way, and doing things your way, things would be fine with you; then I would pass the IQ test with flying colours, right?.
        Well brother, you are who you are, I am who I am. Smoke that. ok?!

    • May 29, 2019

      Why do guardians change dirty diapers? Sateeee sort

    • Jonathan Y St Jean
      May 29, 2019

      Kid On The Block, if the voter’s list is cleansed then the person name will only appear once and in one constituency. All dead people will have their names removed so no chance for someone to go to another polling place and falsely present themselves to vote as a deceased person. Lastly cleaning of the list will remove people who don’t meet the 5-year residency requirement. As such no one can falsely present themselves to vote in the name of someone who is not properly registered. The voter’s id card is to endure that no one presents himself to vote for someone else. There is no need to get all hyped up about something you don’t fully understand. Got it?

  16. I DISAGREE
    May 28, 2019

    “No voter ID and a bloated list are a recipe for fraudulent election says member of Electoral Reform Group”

    No Sir I disagree. Here is the correction: “No voter ID and a bloated list” is PROOF that the election has already been stolen.

    Although an election date has not been called, I STRONGLY believe that Skerrit has already gotten the votes he needs to steal the election. I Strongly believe during World Creole Festival many laborites in the diaspora voted in secret and, many Haitians residing in Haiti and CBI nationals already voted in secret.
    Those who are responsible to work as independent persons to protect our democracy are clearly candidates of the Roosevelt Skerrit party, even if their names don’t appear on the ballot. So President Savarin, Police Commissioner Carbon, Election Commissioner Burton are all there to protect Skerrit. I wouldn’t be surprised that there are many ballots hiding by these guys that will be opened on election day. I just cant trust corrupt…

  17. Cheaters Cheating
    May 28, 2019

    Now a days most shops and business places on island are spending money to build burglar bars, just to make sure they make it more difficult for people to steal. In fact even private homes have burglar bars. People spend lots of money to install car alarms on their vehicles just to make it more difficult for thieves. People like Skerrit that have money like dust, their house is under 24hr security guard just to keep thieves out. But our election that is the most expensive and maybe most important part of our democracy is not worth securing. In fact instead of securing it Skerrit and Burton are making it much easier for thieves to just walk in and steal! In fact to me it even seems that they are going oversees to thieves to come and steal our election. What a shame boy! Skerrit and Burton need to tell us what is wrong with doing whatever is necessary to ensure our electors are FREE & FAIR? IF Skerrit is so convince he is popular, why not give the people election reform? Sacwe voliere

  18. ibo france
    May 28, 2019

    Only the DLP is bullheadedly resisting voter’s ID cards and a complete re-registration of the voter’s list. Imagine, the present voter’s list is almost as large as the entire population. Something is blatantly wrong with that. This anomaly easily lends itself to fraudulent activities during an election. Why this inflexible resistance by the DLP to at least the two sensible reforms mentioned previously? A corrupt, unsavory, roguish clique of bandits is ruining the country and its future. They have so far managed to use the financial resources and the military might of the State to bribe and intimidate the people. It will take courage to overcome just like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, Mahatma Gandhi, Marcus Garvey, Rosa Parks and fearless others. The hotter the battle is the sweeter the victory. I take no pleasure in saying this but Skerrit and his lackeys act just like the scumbags they are. They don’t deserve not even a modicum of respect from the electors.

    • Gary
      May 29, 2019

      There is the old saying empty barrels make the most noise. Asking for a complete re-registration of the voter’s list shows how little you understand the electoral laws and the nefarious agenda you support orchestrated by Linton. Do you know the chaos and the challenges that would take place in the Courts if such thing is done. Why make such ludicrous quote “They have so far managed to use the financial resources and the military might of the State to bribe and intimidate the people”. Wow, is this really true, do you have evidence to support such thing or is it a fragment of your malevolent mind, democracy is well and alive in Dominica, so long for your pathetic propaganda.

  19. J.... F....
    May 28, 2019

    My husband and myself voted in the last general election and we were stunned when given a PENCIL to put our X cross in the box. Pencil lead marks are so easy to rub out. Surely it should be pen ink. It might help to stop cheating just a little.

    • Gary
      May 29, 2019

      You saying such a thing to which I was not a witness nor the readers on DNO, with that said, I am not obliged to accept your word just on what ,you said. When you voted if you think it was wrong to use a pencil then why did’nt you bring it to the attention of the people supervising the polling station, why wait years to make such comment, “It might help to stop cheating just a little” is very ludicrous. What would have stopped the potential for cheating, is you reporting such thing to the officials at hand at the time of voting not waiting years after to make such silly accusation, and you making such accusation does necessarily means that cheating occurred. What needs to be understood is that, a free and fair elections is not dependent only on the electoral commission who is given the task to supervise such operation, we all have a part to play in protecting such fundamental right if democracy is to prevail and be ever watchful for those with a nefarious agenda bent on chaos.

  20. LaPlaine Observer
    May 28, 2019

    The reality on the ground is, the DLP does NOT want electoral reform because the current system benefit them. The only way they can hold on power is by resisting electoral reform.

    • Gary
      May 29, 2019

      That’s just your belief feel free to entertain it.

    • Deacon
      May 29, 2019

      So my question is for the last 35 years we was voting the same way with pencil so the parties that won back them was it stolen or did pple vote twice in other places …tell me how you goin n vote in other places twice …so the agents of the parties involve should how is voting cause they’re part of their communities can someone tell what was wrong with system 35 years ago that’s change now …that the opposition really cryin’ for reform..what’s changed….when you can’t beat someone then I guess something wrong the system …SMH :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

      • UKDominican
        May 30, 2019

        The use of pencils in ballots for marking your vote is historical since in the days of ink this medium might smudge the paper. Pencil is still used in the U.K., for any election but there is no ban on stopping you using your own pen if you prefer. The important thing is to make your mark “X”.

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