GECOM Chairman tells Norton to take electoral grievances to High Court

Last Updated on Friday, 5 September 2025, 23:43 by Writer

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh on Friday dismissed presidential candidate Aubrey Norton’s demand for her to scrap the September 1 general and regional elections and ultimately return to the polls.

Ms Singh told Mr Norton that after the recount and declaration of the results, he could exercise his right under Article 163 of Guyana’s Constitution and file an elections petition.

“This article clearly outlines the legal procedure for addressing concerns about the lawfulness of the election or its results. Therefore, any claims of widespread irregularities necessitating a forensic audit or the annulment of the elections, beyond the scope of the ongoing recounts, would fall under the purview of the High Court by way of an election petition,” she said in response to the APNU presidential candidate’s letter dated September 4 and received at 12:45 pm on Friday.

Justice Singh explained that Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana explicitly stipulates that the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether any question, whether generally or in any particular place, the election was lawfully conducted or the result thereof has been or may have been affected by any unlawful act or omission.

“Once the recounts are completed and the CEO presents the final results to the Commission, any party aggrieved by the outcome will have the right to file an election petition to the High Court, in accordance with Article 163 of the Constitution. This is the constitutionally prescribed method for challenging election results and seeking redress for alleged irregularities that may have affected the outcome,” she added.

She said the seven-member Commission was awaiting the outcome of the recounts in Sub-District 4 of District 4 and the 77 ballot boxes in District 5, as requested by Mr Norton’s APNU. She further informed him that those recounts were being conducted in keeping with established electoral procedures and are crucial for the Chief Election Officer (CEO) to ascertain the election results and present them to the Commission, as mandated by the Representation of the People Act.

“The CEO’s role is to compile and present the results based on the declarations made by the respective returning officers, and to incorporate the findings of any legitimate recounts,” said Ms Singh who, as a sitting High Court judge, had declared the 1997 general and regional elections invalid after finding that the use of voter identification cards was unconstitutional.

The GECOM Chairman said the Commission’s primary responsibility is to conduct elections in a free, fair, and transparent manner, while adhering strictly to the laws of Guyana. She sought to assure the APNU presidential candidate that the Commission is committed to ensuring that the will of the people, as expressed through their votes, is accurately reflected in the final results. “We urge all stakeholders to allow the established legal and procedural mechanisms to run their course.”

In his letter, Mr Norton cited several alleged breaches of the Representation of the People Act to make out a case for the GECOM Chairman not to direct the Commission to make a declaration, but instead scrap the elections, order the forensic audit and hold fresh elections.

Opposition APNU-aligned Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander told Demerara Waves Online News that among Mr Norton’s objections is the failure of the returning officers to make up a statement of poll account before a declaration is made. “It’s an administrative infraction which is being brought to your attention before,” he said. Mr Alexander said it should and could be done before the declaration.