Clock ticking on OMOV
George R. Ebanks writes: From the time that our legislature accepted the recommendations of the Electoral Boundaries Commission in October 2015 to introduce 19 single-member electoral districts, government should have also rolled out their action plan to see it to fruition. As it stands now, the clock is busy ticking away precious seconds of time and the much touted ‘one man, one vote’ (OMOV) stands in danger of being “ran out by the clock”.
Incredibly, it is not just the clock that is ticking and with it the passage of precious time, there are also many questions that needs to be posed and satisfactorily answered before the actual implementation of OMOV. In fact, it is my position that unless government commits itself within the month of January 2016 to put into effect the necessary mechanisms required for a seamless election in May 2017, we will all be witness to the most chaotic, disorganized and underfunded general election ever seen in the history of the Cayman Islands.
Before I proceed, let me hasten to say this: what will be of vital importance in the various voter educational initiatives that hopefully will be undertaken by the government is to ensure a high voter turnout at the next general elections in May 2017.
The Cayman Islands have always boasted of having high voter turnout in the 80 percent range. To now have a general election based on a new concept, and one which has been sold to the Caymanian electorate as being better and more accountable, but then to see that it has resulted in a low voter turnout (say 59%) would indeed be a retrograde step.
I recently read in the press that it is the intention of government to bring changes to the Elections Law (2009 Rev.) during the June 2016 session of the Legislative Assembly.
The June sitting of the House is typically one of its busiest sessions. With the Legislative Assembly being dissolved by the governor (by law) two months before polling day, if the June sitting concludes in late July 2016, that will only then leave some eight months to get it all right.
I really am of the opinion that such a short and tight timeline will leave little, if any, wiggle room for errors or adjustments to be made before elections in May 2017 and ensure a smooth and orderly experience of voters at the various polling divisions.
So what changes need to be made, you might ask. Well, quite a few.
Looking at the Elections Law (2009 Rev.); I can see the following being required:-
- Part II – Electoral Districts and registration of electors.
- Section 4 (i) – with 19 single member constituencies, are we going to require 19 Deputy Supervisors of Elections? The current law provides for a maximum of three only.
- Section 5 – Electoral districts and representation – this section will require major revision to clearly identify the 19 single member constituencies and their boundaries and locations.
What must also be debated and decided is whether each of the 19 single member constituencies will have their own returning officer who can announce the winner once all votes have been counted within his/her constituency or will have to wait for other counts to take place.
- Part III- Registration of Political Parties
- Section 22- Eligible political party – my personal view is that we have matured sufficiently now to not to have so-called political parties being formed two months before an election and contest an election as a party. There ought to be a qualifying period of at least one year prior to a general election for a duly formed political party to be formed and registered. Failure to do so, will result in “political parties” being formed weeks before a general election solely to take advantage of larger financial resources being made available to it without merit. I also think that all political parties needs to be properly regulated, including full transparency and with their financial records and books being made available for public scrutiny.
- Part V- Election Expenses
- Section 67 (1)- Limitation on election expenses – this section will also need serious review and consideration. With the average number of eligible voters some 1,300 persons in each electoral district or constituency, I find it difficult to understand why the premier is saying that “the amounts will be increased by a substantial amount”. Whatever is done, we must be mindful of not allowing a political party to “drown out” an independent candidate because of large sums of funds being made available to its machinery.
Outside of the law, we must also be cognizant that sufficient time must also be allowed for the physical collection of each and every existing voter identification card (Voter ID), which will have to be re-issued to reflect the correct single member constituency in which they are entitled to cast their single vote.
Also, and in closing I should mention that I also hold the view that we should now also have a debate as to the eligibility or not of allowing political candidates to stand as a candidate in single member constituencies in which they themselves do not live. I certainly will not be voting for any candidate who stands for elective office within my constituency should he/she not also live there.
If the government was totally committed to single member electoral districts or constituencies, they should have had a team already on the ground busy with educational town hall style meetings, and teams on the ground educating the average voter as to the many benefits of single member constituencies and OMOV.
The clock is ticking against the smooth implementation of OMOV because I am fearful that OMOV stands in danger of being ran out by the clock.
No PPM members will be elected unless they follow through on OMOV. The party will be effectively dead. They made the promise in their manifesto and just recently took steps in the direction of making it happen. They have no choice now but to complete what they got elected on.
Just like everything else with this weak government all talk no action. They can’t even change the speed limit signs along west bay road
After his mumbo jumbo on the recent documentary he should not be reelected at all. That was a really horrible interview.it probably would have been better if he had let Wayne speak on the subject , but then again he could not do that, that would have meant stepping away from the camera for a few minutes. Talk about being inept!!
Omov will never happen. The controlled system in Cayman is petrified of an house full of independents. Give us Omov and we will show you the truth. We hate party politics.
George the more troubling thing if
10 candidates run in my area
my area has 100 voters
8 candidates get 10 votes each
1 candidate gets 9 votes
and the winner gets 11 votes (mainly family)
that means he/she/transgendered was elected by 11% of the population.
Hardly what I would call a consensus.
We either need a run off or much simpler preferential voting.
10 candidates
Rate them 1 to 10 on the ballot
1 gets 10 points
2 gets 9
3 gets 8 and so on.
most points is the winner.
That is representational not this other rubbish
Why would anyone dislike this post unless off course you can get in on your family votes
The Activism procesß on one man one vote and. The premise that it creates equality has not yet been sufficiently articulated in terms of the real benefits to the people of the Cayman Islands, its economy, the job. Market, cost of living, yes gas prices , education. Crime and other issues and/or subjects which will provide a better way of life for Caymanians and all who live in these three Islands.
Quite frankly I’m kinda tired of the discussion on OMOV when there are so many issues on so many different fronts that we face today. While I agree in principle with representative equality, the equality of vote has been taken up as a thing that needs to be done or else. i strongly believe that the copy cat and end of world hurried approach. without proper institutions, laws and educationa of the people is not conducive to a smooth implementation . Ramming it in or down at this time of pressing needs is not going to provide relief where it is needed, and also will only please immensely those who care more about coat tails politics’ rather than the substance of getting our priorities straight/right and implementing tangible and visible solutions to more important and significant issues that are affecting the lives of the populace.
Fellow Caymanians I believe many of us share the thought that where we are today is not where we want to be, but , ought to be in a place where the focus is on reducing our cost of living, on providing livable wages, on education and a goal of reducing unemployment to a bare minimum; on having effective policing and crime reduction etc. Let us be active all of us in the pursuit of our needs now and in the future.
Let’s address our critical needs, let’s make Cayman a place where our children don’t have to go away to make a living , let us work on lobbying our elected representatives to focus on our needs as a priority and the harmonious existence of all who live on these beautiful shores.
God Bless these Cayman Islands
John Henry. While I agree with almost all of your assessments of the major problems plagueing the Cayman Islands, I do not need to remind you that those things have plagued us through the past three administrations.
I also do not need to remind you that all of those administrations were elected under the multi member coattail election process.
What this has caused is that Alden is getting all of the heat because he is the Premier (as did Mckeeva before him ), however as a George Town voter, the remaining five continue to ignore my plight and each points the finger at the other.
OMOV is the most important item on the agenda right now.
Even if someone that I dont vote for hets elected in.my constituency, I will know exactlu who I need to go after when I have a problem.
If OMOV was in place right now we would have every polition in tje house fighting to improve the lot of the Caymanian voter, not just Arden, Ezzard and Alden.
Thank you Wa ya say, I’m no expert but time will tell if OMOV really solves the problems faced by “all” of us; which should be what we “all ” want or is it?.
I wish I had as much time as you to dream up this stuff.
Are you jealous?
Kinda…
Alden will not be elected under this new system, the delays therefore shall continue.