Anguilla’s Supervisor of Elections, Ms. Aurjul Wilson, breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday, October 9, as voters from across the island streamed into the Central Electoral Office to participate in a mock election exercise for the first time.
Judging from what appeared to have been a lack of “election fever” among the majority of the registered 10,900 voters and the trickle of persons for Voter Registration Cards, there was perhaps reason to believe that the turnout at the mock election would have been a nightmare. But, thankfully, this was not the case.
By 8.30 am many persons from the rank and file of the island had already begun to crowd the Electoral Office or take up standing or sitting positions outside and inside the mock polling stations and voting booths. The prognosis is that the 2020 polling could well be Anguilla’s most supported and exciting election process.
One reason is that, in addition to the general district elections for seven candidates, there will be island-wide or at large elections for four candidates. Another possible reason for the excitement is that, for the first time, tabulating machines will be used for counting the ballots. There is also the Registration Cards to make voting quicker, thus reducing the long lines at the polling stations in the searing heat of the sun.
It was of much interest to observe various persons appearing at the Central Electoral Office with passports in hand and having their photographs taken in order to obtain their Voter Registration Cards.
The layout for the mock election exercise was simply commendable. It appeared that smiling, helpful and well-trained polling clerks, presiding officers and other associated personnel were everywhere, professionally managing the voting process which, according to commentators, seemed to have been “the real thing.” Given the quite lengthy ballots, the “voters” were directed to choose one of the seven fictitious district candidates and four of a greater number of at large candidates. The “voters” went into the booths, quickly did their selections, came out and insert the unfolded ballots into the slot of the brand new boxes. “But this is so simple and easy,” one person remarked.
Ms. Wilson, the Supervisor of Elections, darted here and there overseeing the process. When The Anguillian newspaper eventually caught up with her, the following dialogue took place:
Is today’s turnout beyond your wildest dreams?
Actually it is. I am glad about the turnout because I was really skeptical up to this morning when we only had 1,000 persons who had updated their status. We had specifically asked persons who had their IDs to come out so that they could see how the system is working. But the turnout is beyond my wildest dreams. I was wondering whether I had sufficient ballots and I am hoping so.
Do you see this as an indication of what the real election process will be will be?
That is correct but don’t take it from me. Some of the persons who went through the process told me: ‘This is easy. I can come back any minute.’ It just took a matter of about five minutes once persons were presented with their Registration Cards.
How difficult did this process appear to you at first?
I was afraid because it is new and usually anything that is new everybody is skeptical of. But once the electoral workers and other persons were educated about the process it was found to be much easier than was thought. I am now hoping that between now and the real election day that more people will become involved. We will use some footage from here to give persons an idea of how we will perform on that day and are hoping that many people will come out to vote.
I hope it will be a piece of cake. I expect that we will have some issues with connectivity as regards the Internet but other than that, everything looks fine. I think we are well on our way. I am very positive. I have nothing negative to say at this point. I just know I have to reinforce my electoral education drive. I have to go out in the districts and ask the politicians to assist me in terms of getting persons to obtain their Voter Registration Cards.
I wish you the very best.
Thank you.
