First postal ballots dispatched
(CNS): Caymanians who are currently overseas will be the first to vote for the 2021 General election when they will begin casting their votes this week. The Elections Office dispatched the first batch of postal ballots on Monday and these 90 ballots should be received by the voters within a day or two, in keeping with the office’s legal requirement to issue postal ballots within seven days of Nomination Day..
DHL dispatched 81 of the ballots to overseas voters, five were delivered locally by MailFast to voters who are still here right now but will be away on Election Day, and four ballots were collected from the Elections Office by voters with imminent flight departures.
To help mitigate against COVID-related delays impacting postal voters, Cabinet has approved recommendations submitted by the Supervisor of Elections to amend the Elections Rules and permit General Election ballots to be sent and returned via commercial courier.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, express and regular mail services around the world continue to face disruptions because of limited airlift capacity, varying prevention restrictions and logistical challenges with international postal systems, officials said in a release about the postal ballot process.
“The unprecedented circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have created new challenges for postal voters and the Elections Office,” said Supervisor of Elections Wesley Howell. “Being able to take advantage of DHL’s dedicated aircraft and robust international transportation systems is one way we are overcoming these challenges to ensure that Postal Voting is conducted smoothly.”
The amended rules, gazetted on Wednesday 3 March, allow the Elections Office to dispatch outgoing postal ballots by courier and pre-pay the cost of the returned ballot from the voter. Section 109 of the Elections Act permits Cabinet to amend the Election Rules with respect to incidental matters related to taking or voting by post or mobile votinh as well as voter registration.
Postal ballot and mobile voting applications are only valid for one election or referendum.
Registered voters who will be overseas on Election Day are strongly encouraged to apply for postal ballots at their earliest opportunity. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, 6 April.
Download the form to apply for postal voting.
Read about postal voting here.
Email the complete form to office@elections.ky
Postal voters are reminded to read and follow the instructions included with the postal ballot to ensure their ballot will be accepted.
Candidates and agents are reminded that it is an offence to assist with postal ballot application forms or to witness a postal voter declaration of identity form.
Postal ballots should be returned as soon as possible as they must be received by the Elections Office in Grand Cayman or Cayman Brac no later than Tuesday, 13 April.
All ballots have to be received by the returning officer by 6pm on 14 April in order to be counted.
Category: Election News
Only color missing is the green. Ring a bell.
Our ballots were delivered to us in Portugal today.
World Class.