#GrandTurk, Turks and Caicos Islands – October 22, 2020 — Amid fears of rapid Covid-19 spread on the voting day, the Elections Department proposed advance polling for Coronavirus patients and those in quarantine centres to curb the possible spread of the deadly virus.
According to a statement
by the Department of Elections, those who have tested positive for Coronavirus,
and quarantined, will be permitted to vote a day before the general elections late
this year or early next year.
The proposed amendments
to the Election Ordinance prescribes several measures to avert the risk of a
rapid spread of the virus during the polling process.
In light of the
Coronavirus presence in the island region, the amendment to the TCI Election Ordinance
aims at maintaining voters’ safety during the pandemic.
In the statement sent to the public on October 13, 2020, the Supervisor of
Elections Dudley Lewis urged members of the public to provide feedback through
hard copies or email addresses provided in the statement.
According to the
statement sent out last week, voters who wish to vote should apply for approval
from the supervisor within ten days of the statement.
The statement
further explained any individual approved by the supervisor to vote in the
advance poll would enjoy full support and rights, identical to those upheld on general
election day expected late this year or early 2021.
However, the
approved voters will be required to authenticate their approval to participate
in the advance polls or be denied the chance to vote at the advanced poll.
“A voter who is
approved to vote at an Advance Poll shall be allowed to vote in like manner as
he would have been entitled to do on the day appointed for taking the poll,
except that he shall not be allowed to vote at advance poll unless he produces
proof of approval to vote at Advance Poll,” reads part of the statement.
The elections
supervisor also stated that there are safety protocols in place instituted by
the top Medical Officer in a bid to control and regulate Coronavirus positive
voters and those in the quarantine facilities.
Additional
safety protocols have also been established for voters diagnosed with
Coronavirus, and those under quarantine are hopeful of participating in the
advance polls.
The Proposed Safety Protocols
According to the
Department of Elections statement, any voter tested positive or from quarantine
who wishes to take part in upcoming advance polls should make and submit an
appeal to the Elections Supervisor within ten days from the day the statement
was issued, but not later.
When the request
is accepted, the voter should inform the officials from the Ministry of Health
about his/her intention to go to the polling station before leaving the
isolation facility for the officers to prepare.
Besides that,
the voter will also be required to produce proof of permission to participate
in the advance polls before gaining access to the polling station.
Additionally, the
voter should use a private or personal car to go to the polling station.
While at the station,
he or she must put on an N95 or KN95 mask covering the mouth and nose, gloves,
face shield, and a disposable gown.
The voter should
also keep a physical distance of at least six feet from others at the station
as much as is practical.
Moreover, the
advanced safety protocols state that the voter should comply with all other
protocols set at the station and wash their hands with soap for at least 20-seconds
to kill any covid-19 virus that might have come into contact with the hands.
Also, traveling
to and from the quarantine facilities by the voters is restricted to direct
routes only, and the voter should return to the isolation centres immediately
after casting a vote.
After the
polling exercise is over, the used polling stations will undergo deep cleaning
in preparation for the main polling day.
If the proposal
is approved, the advance election polling process is expected to kick-off at
8.00 AM and wrap up at 4.00 PM.
Consultation on the proposal concluded October 21.