#TurksandCaicosIslands – January 26, 2021 – The Elections Office had nomination packages ready since yesterday for political parties and candidates in the upcoming general election.
“The Supervisor said “although many people have come
forward and said that it is their intention to stand for election, they cannot
do so unless they have met all the requirements stated in the nomination pack
and they must submit the correctly completed application by the deadline and
pay the required deposit of five hundred dollars ($500.00).”
These packs provide guidance
to what is required on and before the nomination day, which is this coming
Friday January 29, 2021 across the Turks and Caicos.
“It
includes detailed guidance notes about the requirements and a helpful checklist
so that Candidates can ensure that their nomination papers has been properly
completed, including all of the other required forms that must be submitted to
either the Returning Officer or the Supervisor.
According
to the election timetable, the Governor has issued the formal Writs for election.”
There was also notice
about the parties’ symbols to be placed on the ballot.
The law says that while
political parties can present a recommendation on their symbol for use in the
voting process, the Elections Supervisor could assign something else.
The PDM uses the
liberty bell. The PNP uses the conch
shell.
“Section
28 (1) of the Ordinance stipulates “On or before the day fixed for nomination
of Candidates under section 27, the secretary or other officer of a political
party or an independent candidate may certify and file with the Supervisor a
notice of request to use a particular voting symbol, which notice shall be in
the form prescribed in the ordinance (Schedule 2).
(2)
Within forty-eight hours after the close of nomination the Supervisor may allot
a voting symbol to each candidate in such election: Provided that the same
symbol shall be allotted to each candidate of the same political party.”
Independent candidates
are also free to make recommendations but the final say lies with the Elections
Supervisor.
“I
will consider in good faith and give due regard to the desire of a political
party or independent candidates to use a political symbol,” said Dudley
Lewis, Elections Supervisor in a media statement issued on Monday.
Key to note, if these
suggested symbols are not received two days ahead of the nomination day, then
parties and individuals would have missed the stipulated deadline.
“Once a
timely notice has been received within 48 hours after the close of Nomination,
the Supervisor will allot a voting symbol.
However,
any notices received after Nomination Day will not meet with legislative
timeline set out in section 28(1),” informed the notice.
