St Helena : St Helena Announces Three Candidates to Choose from on Polling Day
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 13.08.2008 (Article Archived on 27.08.2008)
Three candidates are up for election including Mr Eric Walter George of Palm Cottage, Mr Anthony Arthur Green of Oltonia, Knollcombes, and Mr Cyril Keith Gunnell of Cashem House, Napoleon Street.
St Helena Announces Three Candidates to Choose from on
3 September 2008 – Polling Day
People of the West Electoral area will go to the Polls on Wednesday 3 September 2008 to elect a new councillor for St Helena. This by-election follows the resignation of John Reid.
Three candidates are up for election including Mr Eric Walter George of Palm Cottage, Mr Anthony Arthur Green of Oltonia, Knollcombes, and Mr Cyril Keith Gunnell of Cashem House, Napoleon Street.
Returning Officer Ethel Yon OBE said “People of the West Electoral Area, you have three candidates to choose from. Make sure that you cast your vote on Polling Day.”
The Returning Officer also said that Polling Stations will open at 10am and close at 7pm on 3 September. Stations will be set up at the Kingshurst Community Centre, the Blue Hill Community Centre, the Half Tree Hollow Community Centre and the Sandy Bay Community Centre.
A Presiding Officer, Deputy Presiding Officer and a Police Constable will be present at each Polling Station.
The Police Constable will advise voters of when it is convenient for them to enter the door marked “IN”. Voters should go directly to the Deputy Presiding Officer’s table. The Deputy Presiding Officer will then check whether you are a registered voter. If you are, you will be directed to the Presiding Officer’s table and here, you will be given a ballot paper.
When the Presiding Officer hands you your ballot paper he or she will stamp it with an official mark. You should make sure it is stamped on both sides. The Presiding Officer must also ask you whether or not you know how to record your vote. As soon as the Presiding Officer is satisfied that you know how to vote, you will be directed to the Polling Booth where you will record your vote.
You can only vote for one candidate. Vote by placing an X next to the name of your candidate. Then you must fold your paper in half so that no one can see who you voted for. Take the folded paper to the Presiding Officer and show him or her the official mark on the back of your paper. Then place the paper into the ballot box.
If you spoil your ballot paper, you can take it back to the Presiding Officer and ask for a new one. You should only place your X on the paper. If you mark it in any other way, your vote will not be counted.
Voters must leave the Polling Station immediately after voting. They should do so quietly and through the door marked “OUT”. Remember that it is an offence to destroy a ballot paper or to take a ballot paper out of the Polling Station. If you do the penalty is six months in prison.
Polling Station Limits will be posted around the Polling Stations and canvassing will not be allowed in this area. In addition, no talking will be allowed in the area, except when voters are communicating with the Presiding and Deputy Presiding Officers.
The Election will have to be carried out in accordance with the law and this means that voters cannot pass themselves off as someone else. Secrecy must be maintained so that no one will know who votes for whom. It is also an offence to offer anyone food, drink, entertainment or anything to influence someone to vote or to refrain from voting. In addition, it is an offence to threaten anyone in order to affect how they vote. All of these offences are extremely serious and carry harsh penalties.
If voters are blind, incapacitated, or illiterate, they can ask the Presiding Officer to vote for them.
Voting can be done by proxy if voters are unable to attend the Polling Station because they are physically handicapped and have no ready means of transport, or if they are sick and it is medically undesirable for them to travel to the Polling Station. If voting by Proxy you should collect a form from Gillian Francis or Aldhelm Garner. Proxy forms will have to be returned to Ethel Yon by no later than 9am on Monday 1 September 2008. Your proxy can be anyone on the Island, even if they are not registered electors. However, you cannot nominate someone to be your proxy if they are already a proxy for someone else.
Proxy voting is also open to registered electors who are on Ascension or the RMS. On Ascension, forms can be collected from the Assistant Registration Officer, Gerrilyn Crowie and on the RMS from Captain Andrew Greentree.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact either Ethel Yon or Gillian Francis.
Public Relations/Information Office
Office of the Chief Secretary
13 August 2008
|
