Observers: Dominica elections reflect will of voters

CMC – In Dominica, the Commonwealth Observer Group that observed general elections said on Thursday that the results of the December 6 polls reflected the collective will of voters.

Presenting its preliminary findings, the Group concluded that Election Day and the pre-election atmosphere were largely peaceful and voters were free to exercise their franchise.

“It is the Group’s considered view that the results reflect the collective will of the people who voted and that the election … was conducted in accordance with the laws of Dominica,” it said.

However, the observers noted that while wholly consistent with the Constitution, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s November 6 announcement of the snap elections created certain challenges for some stakeholders with opposition parties taking the decision to boycott the elections, due to the alleged lack of progress on electoral reform.

The opposition parties had been calling for electoral reform, including a clean voters list and identification cards.

“The Group notes that there is no requirement for voters to prove their identity using an ID card, or other form of photographic identification, as is the case in many Commonwealth countries. The Group also notes that the procedures for checking the eligibility of citizens living abroad were the subject of intense debate,” said Chairperson of the Group and Former Foreign Affairs Minister Amina Mohamed.

“The observations of the Group are that voters who turned out were able to identify themselves satisfactorily to electoral officials and exercise their franchise. Nevertheless, the Group considers that there is room for improvement in this regard.”

The Commonwealth Observer Group commended and congratulated all Dominicans who participated peacefully in the voting process.

It also congratulated the election authorities and polling staff, the political parties, candidates, the police, and candidates’ agents for their respective roles in ensuring the success of the electoral process.

“It is the Group’s hope and expectation that the peaceful atmosphere that characterised Election Day will prevail. All Dominicans, especially political parties, candidates, and their supporters, are encouraged to continue to show magnanimity and uphold their commitments to peace, in a spirit of national unity and solidarity,” Mohamed said.

The observers were also particularly impressed by the large number of women and youth who participated in the electoral process, not only as candidates and voters but also as polling staff, party agents, and witnesses/observers.

The comprehensive final report, which will set out the full findings on the entire election process, will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General and thereafter shared with the Government of Dominica, the Electoral Office, political parties, and all Commonwealth governments, before being made public.

The final report will also offer several recommendations for consideration to contribute toward the deepening of democracy and strengthening future electoral processes.

Members of the Commonwealth Observer Group arrived here on December 1 at the invitation of Prime Minister Skerrit and were deployed across the country to observe all aspects of the election process including the pre-election environment, the opening of polling stations, the voting process, and the counting of ballots.

They were preceded by an advance Commonwealth Observer Team that has been in the country since November 28.

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