Biometric system “not feasible” for 2025 elections, cannot be used exclusively for voting- GECOM Chairman

Last Updated on Sunday, 19 January 2025, 16:30 by Writer

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh has decided that although the law allows for the electronic capture of fingerprints for registration and voting, it would be unconstitutional to use it exclusively for voting and it would take too long to be implemented for the 2025 general and regional elections.

“With less than a year to go before these Elections, and given the number of tasks that would need to be done before such a system can be properly introduced, and all of the work already required to prepare for General and Regional Elections, I am convinced that this is not feasible within the time presently available,” she said in her January 16, 2025, decision seen by Demerara Waves Online News.

Senior government officials have often said that general and regional elections would be held in October or November, 2025.

The opposition sees the introduction of a digital biometric system as an important measure to guard against voter impersonation because of the bloated voters list and multiple voting.

She said those tasks include stakeholder consultations to determine whether GECOM should introduce biometrics now, consulting with stakeholders like the Government and Parliament to determine whether it is even possible to do so now, considering things like costs and any legislative amendments necessary to cater fully for it; procurement of equipment for the introduction of biometrics in the registration process and at the place of poll; training of staff on the use of such equipment; public education on the introduction of these systems, and how they are to be used to aid in registration and in voting.

Apart from the procurement of equipment, training of personnel and education of the public, she said the seven-member Commission needed to address other issues such as ensuring that there is adequate legislation pertaining to the security of prints.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips earlier this month told Demerara Waves Online News that the 2023 Data Protection Act would be operationalised “very soon”. “We are currently putting together the organizational structure, the infrastructure and the systems that are needed to operationalise—commence the functioning of—the oversight body in keeping with the provisions of the Data Protection Act,” he said.

Justice Singh stated categorically that “it is my opinion that GECOM could introduce” a system to move from manual to digital capture of fingerprints because 9 (1A) of the National Registration Act as amended by Act 14 of 2005 empowers the Commission to determine from time to time procedures for the acquisition and electronic processing of data. “It is obvious therefore that, in this regard, there is nothing in the law or otherwise preventing the introduction of a system where such fingerprints are taken digitally, since it is the Commission that is empowered to determine such procedures,” she said.

On the question of biometric fingerprint identification for voting, the GECOM Chairman cautioned that that system could not be used as the sole means for identifying electors at polling stations or that would amount to a violation of Guyana’s Constitution. “Introducing a system of biometric identification of voters digitally as a mandatory, or only means of identification would impose an additional requirement for voters and would therefore be unconstitutional,” she said. Ms Singh cited the need for legislation to use biometric fingerprints as an additional means to aid in the identification of electors where, if a person who is eligible to vote cannot be identified using the digital fingerprint, other methods can still be used to identify one and allow one to vote. “It is my opinion that GECOM could introduce it in that way as another tool to identify persons. However, in this regard legislation will be necessary for the introduction of such tools,” she said.

In relation to biometric identification at the place of poll, she said the law provides for fingerprints of voters to be compared with that on their identity paper which equates to the National Identification (ID) card. However, she said only ID cards are issued to persons who could not sign or carry the fingerprint of the registrant. In this regard, what is on their identification card would also be in GECOM’s system, but a presiding officer could make such a comparison using just his or her eyes.