Guyana heads to the polls today

DPI, Guyana, Monday, March 2, 2020

Guyanese from all walks of life will today be exercising their civic duty when they cast their ballots in the much anticipated 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The 2,339 polling places across the country will be opened at 6 am. Electors will have until 6 pm to cast their ballots.

A total of 13 political parties will be contesting the elections this year. Among them, the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change and opposition People’s Progressive Party.

Several small parties will also be seeking to secure votes at both the general and regional polls. These are A New United Guyana, Change Guyana, Federal United Party, Liberty and Justice Party, Organisation For the Victory of the People, The Citizenship Initiative, People’s Republic Party, The New Movement and United Republican Party.

An estimated 661, 378 eligible persons will be casting their votes today at the 2, 339 polling stations located across the country.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has already assured that all systems have been put in place to ensure credible elections. More than 13,500 polling day staff will be manning the polling stations.

Several local and international observers have been approved by GECOM and will be on the ground at polling station across the country.

Included on the local observer’s list are the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Cuffy 250, AMCHAM Guyana, the Bar Association, the Ethnic Relations Commission and Youth Challenge Guyana.

International observers include the Organisation of American States (OAS) the European Union (EU) the Carter Centre, CARICOM and the Commonwealth.

With assurances of credible elections, GECOM said it will ensure that the results of the elections are available in the shortest possible time.

Polls will close at 18:00hours this evening.