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The United National Congress’ candidate for the electoral district of Bagatelle/Blue Basin, Nalini Goindoo called off her request into a recount of the votes cast in that electoral district in the Local Government Elections of Monday 14^th August, 2023. The election in this electoral district was won by the PNM’s candidate, Alina Zennie Renn by a margin of 220 votes.

The recounts in the electoral districts of Arima West/O’Meara, Auzonville/Tunapuna, Blanchisseuse/Santa Rosa, Five Rivers, Sangre Grande Northeast and San Juan East are also completed.

The full Press Release containing the results of these recounts can be found hereunder

One recount called off and six more completed UPDATED

Three of the fourteen recounts are completed. Please see the reults in this Press Release, which you can find hereunder:

Three of the fourteen recounts completed

Whilst the proceedings relative to recounts in fourteen electoral districts is underway, these are the preliminary results of the Local Government Elections, of Monday 14^th August, 2023.

With an electorate of 1,091,935 in 141 electoral districts in Trinidad, there was a voter turn-out of 30.34%.  The total votes cast were 331,300 with 996 rejected ballots.

The full details can be found in this Press Release

Press Release EBC – Preliminary Results of the 2023 Local Government Elections

The Elections and Boundaries Commission has received official requests for recounts in thirteen of the one hundred and forty-one electoral districts, which were contested in the Local Government Elections on Monday 14^th August, 2023.

The undermentioned is a list of the electoral districts and political party of the candidate requesting the recount.

1. Arima Northeast (UNC)
2. Arima West/O’Meara (UNC)
3. Auzonville/Tunapuna (UNC)
4. Bagatelle/Blue Basin (UNC)
5. Blanchisseuse/Santa Rosa (UNC)
6. Cocoyea/Tarouba (UNC)
7. Five Rivers (UNC)
8. Lengua/Indian Walk (UNC)
9. Marabella West (PNM)
10. Marabella South/Vistabella (PNM)
11. Maracas/Santa Margarita (UNC)
12. Mayaro North (UNC)
13. Sangre Grande Northeast (UNC)
14. San Juan East (UNC)

All recounts will commence at 3:00 p.m. today, Tuesday 15^th August, 2023 at the Office for the Returning Officer for the electoral district where the recount was requested. The date, time and venue was established in the Notices of Election, which were required to be published in the press, the Gazette and are posted at the Offices of the Returning Officers in accordance with Election Rule 4 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 2:01

Press Release – Requests for recounts in 14 electoral districts

Fern Narcis-Scope, the Chief Election Officer at the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has officially responded to a request made by the Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar for an investigation into “special ballot irregularities”.

In her response to the Opposition Leader, Narcis-Scope explained that there was no provision in the Election Rules for the sealing of ballot boxes at special polling stations established by the Commission, in accordance with Election Rule 76 of the Representation of the People Act, Chap. 2:01. Narcis-Scope advised that it had become the practice for Special Presiding Officers to use ballot boxes to transport the sealed envelopes but there is no requirement in law, to either use ballot boxes or to seal them. The broken seals were, in fact part of a previous process utilized at the Special Polling Station and was in no way part of the process being witnessed at Queen’s Hall.

Narcis-Scope added that her investigations revealed that as required by law, all the special envelopes were sealed by the Special Presiding Officer and for matters of safety and security in the transportation, all boxes were locked. Further, at the sorting exercise at Queen’s Hall, all the special envelopes were displayed as being sealed and intact. Narcis-Scope noted that the fact that two (2) ballot boxes were not sealed does not impact the outcome of the election in any given electoral district as suggested by the Opposition Leader.

In the second complaint made by the Opposition Leader that the ballots cast at the Sangre Grande Police Station were not packaged according to the standard procedure so that the names of some electors could be viewed by the EBC staff who were responsible for sorting the votes and sending them to the respective Electoral Districts.

Narcis-Scope said her investigations revealed that the eleven (11) covering envelopes with the declaration of identity of the special electors as required by Election Rule 71 were placed in the ballot box at that location, which was then locked and sealed. A proper record was kept of the districts that the ballots were cast for via a Statement of the Contents of the Special Ballot Box in accordance with Election Rule 84 (2) and was duly signed by the Special Presiding Officer. This Statement was also shown to witnesses present at the sorting exercise.

In closing, the Chief Election Officer noted that it was regrettable that notwithstanding the training provided there was a deviation from the approved procedure, this deviation however, did not compromise the integrity of the process as all staff of the Commission designated to participate in special poll proceedings are required to take declarations of secrecy and further, the identity of persons who have cast their ballots is an essential component of the electoral process.

The Chief Election Officer received an official letter from the Opposition Leader calling for an investigation into the aforementioned claims on Sunday 13^th August, 2023. These claims were made by members of the UNC, who were invited to witness the sorting of special envelopes for the 2023 Local Government Elections at 1:00 p.m. on Friday 11^th August, 2023 at the Helen May Johnstone Conference Room, Queen’s Hall.

Chief Election Officer responds to Opposition Leader’s request for an investigation into “special ballot irregularities”

Fern Narcis-Scope, Chief Election Officer at the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) is confident that everything is in place for persons to vote tomorrow.

Narcis-Scope says, “We’re ready and every effort has been made to ensure each elector is able to cast their vote.” Narcis-Scope reminded the electorate that persons who may not have received their poll card or with expired ID cards can still vote, once their name is on the Revised List of Electors.

In its preparations for Monday’s elections, the EBC has partnered with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) and the Disaster Management Units (DMUs) of the Regional Corporations. Narcis-Scope said this was the beginning of what she considers to be a working partnership with these agencies going forward. The EBC will be monitoring Monday’s weather conditions and will receive regular updates from the TTMS. With the assistance of the ODPM and the DMUs, sandbags have also been pre-positioned in flood prone areas in the event of an emergency during Monday’s elections.

The full Press Release can be found here:

EBC says all is in place for 2023 LGE

Many of you may be seasoned voters, but many will be voting for the very first time in these Local Government Elections. We want you to know voting is easy, simple and safe.

The Elections and Boundaries Commission has prepared this informative feature to guide you through the voting process on Election Day. You can view our  video, To Vote is Simple here.

If you didn’t receive your poll card in the mail and you are on the Revised List of Electors… YOU CAN STILL VOTE! If you don’t have a valid ID card but your name is on the Revised List of Electors…. YOU CAN STILL VOTE!

TO VOTE IS YOUR RIGHT…. EXERCISE IT!

A messge from the Elections and Boundaries Commission… your Partners in Democracy

The Elections and Boundaries Commission is advising all political parties, candidates contesting the 2023 Local Government Elections, electors and all other democratic stakeholders to respect the laws or face the consequences.

Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. We have itemized for you in the flyers below, the list of election offences. Please be guided on the dos and don’ts, with respect to the law on Election Day.

Bribery, treating and undue influence 

Election offences 

The Elections and Boundaries Commission wishes to bring to the attention of all employers, the provisions relating to Time-Off for Voting as stipulated in law.

In accordance with Election Rule 28of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 2:01, every employer shall permist each elector in his employment to be absent from his work on polling day during the hours of the poll for two hours in addition to the normal midday meal hour.

The contents of the full Notice can be found here:

Employee Time Off for Voting 

Voting starts today, Monday 7^th August 2023, for persons who have previously applied to be treated as Special Electors for the 2023 Local Government Elections.

In accordance with Election Rule 60 (2) a special elector must cast the ballot in the manner and at the time and place fixed for casting of votes of special electors. Special Electors are only eligible to vote during the periods stated below and cannot vote on poll day. These persons are eligible to vote at Special Polling Stations established by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) at the office of the Returning Officer in the electoral district where they are registered. These polling stations will operate daily from Monday 7^th to Sunday 13^th August 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The full Press Release can be found here:

Press Release – Voting by Special Electors begins today for 2023 LGE