Private sector election observers see no major change in results

Last Updated on Thursday, 4 September 2025, 23:32 by Writer

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) observers of the September 1 general and regional elections have not found any major difference between the declared district results and the vote recount, Chairman Gerry Gouveia Jr said Thursday night.

“From the observations we have been making, there hasn’t been any real significant changes to the outcome or even the process from the tabulation to where it is now. We haven’t seen any material changes in the number of votes cast,” he told Demerara Waves Online News.

Among the discrepancies found by the PSC include the placement of the ‘X’ on the ballot that reflects each voter’s intent, smudging of stamps on ballots and the signing of ballots. “It’s going both ways and what I can tell you is that the overall change is negligible,” he said.

Moments after observing the recount at the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) on High and Cowan streets, Kingston, Georgetown, Mr Gouveia also said the recount process was meticulous.

He said GECOM officials were present at counting tables advising political party representatives about the process and what constitutes a valid vote. “Any discrepancies or any questions, queries or anything that was brought, I have to say that GECOM staff were conducting themselves with a high level of professionalism where they are addressing the issues, they are showing it in the law where it’s applicable and then either diffusing or correcting things immediately,” he said.

Mr Gouveia said PSC observers witnessed several stages of Guyana’s electoral process ranging from Nomination Day, Disciplined Services voting day, voting by the general public on September 1, preparation of statements of poll, regional tabulation and the recount.

While there were reports of personality-driven “flare-ups,” the PSC Chairman boasted that GECOM’s preparedness was “very high”.

APNU requested a recount of votes cast in sub-district four in Region Four and a partial recount of ballots cast in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).