ALL SYSTEMS GO AT EBC

“Shake well before use” 

This will be the instructions on the electoral ink, to be used for the local government elections. The ingredients for the ink have already been obtained and will be passed on to the Government chemist to be mixed and bottled, said Chief Elections Officer Howard Cayenne at a news conference yesterday. He also disclosed that “as in the last election,” TT Post would manage the distribution of Poll Cards. The Commission expects to hand over all poll cards to TT Post by June 30. Speaking at a news conference, Cayenne stated that “generally, the Commission has things well in hand and is satisfied so far with the election preparedness of its staff.” Nevertheless he stated that the management of the local government elections was  a greater “logistical” challenge for the EBC because,  in a local election, the EBC had to manage three and a half times the number of electoral districts — 126 as opposed to 36 in a general election. Yesterday was the last day for electoral registration which began on June 3.

Stressing that the conduct of the local government election must be free from any political pressure or partisan influence, Cayenne said the EBC called yesterday’s  media conference to remind everyone that an election and the electoral process were for the people — the electors.  Cayenne said persons wishing to vote as special electors must submit their applications to the EBC by June 23. Cayenne said the local election would cost the EBC $14 million. Meanwhile, Chairman of the EBC, Oswald Wilson, also speaking yesterday, declared the EBC and its staff completelty prepared for the local poll.