APNU welcomes GECOM’s ‘vote buying’ warning, calls for fraud hotlines

Last Updated on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, 18:39 by Writer

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Tuesday said it supported the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) warning that violation of the secrecy of the ballots and all payment or bribery for votes could result in imprisonment.

“We therefore urge all Guyanese electors not to be tempted to break the law and risk fines and imprisonment for any bribe waved in their faces by those who believe that popularity could be bought,” APNU said in a statement. GECOM on Monday warned Guyanese voters that any person who directly or indirectly, offers any money, gift, and/or a loan, to any voter to secure the vote of any voter; directly or indirectly, offers any money, gift, and/or a loan, to any voter to secure the vote of any voter or directly or indirectly, offers any money, gift, and/or a loan, to any voter to secure the vote of any voter at the elections commits an offence and can be fined and imprisoned for six months.

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led APNU, however, called for special phone numbers that persons could call to report allegations of electoral fraud. “We hereby also advise GECOM and the Guyana Police Force to set up hotlines where persons can anonymously report these and other incidents of electoral fraud,” APNU said.

APNU also wants GECOM to aggressively inform Guyanese that they should not use their cell phones to take pictures of their marked ballots as evidence of which party they voted for in order to collect payment from his or her briber. APNU wants GECOM to ensure the public is informed that photographs and the use of cameras are prohibited in the polling place. APNU said GECOM’s latest press release “omits this vital bit of information.”

APNU also appealed to the five other political parties that are contesting the September 1, 2025 general and regional elections to back its calls and GECOM’s warning as part of efforts to guarantee the secrecy of ballots cast. “The other contesting political parties, which are interested in free and credible elections, should have no difficulty in publicly endorsing these and other measures to maintain the secrecy of the ballot,” that party said.

APNU had on July 18, 2025 stated that”Guyana has reached a point in its electoral history where the secrecy of the ballot must be guaranteed more than ever before. Elections can only be a true reflection of the will of the people when they can vote free from fear, coercion, and bribes…GECOM can ensure this by guaranteeing the secrecy of the ballot. In this regard, the rule prohibiting the taking of photos of one’s vote must be publicized widely and enforced on E-day in all polling stations countrywide.”