Registered voters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines who are in COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation will be allowed to vote and officials have detailed the protocols that these electors must follow.
On Friday, the Health Services Subcommittee of the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) detailed the respective protocols that person in quarantine (day 1 to day 5) and in isolation, and those in quarantine (day 5 to day 14) must follow on election day, if they wish to vote.
The procedures are as follows:
Procedures for electors/voters in quarantine (day 5 to day 14):
1. All eligible voters/electors under a quarantine order will be issued a temporary waiver of quarantine for a specified period on November 5, 2020 to allow voting at the polling station allotted to them in accordance with the provisions made by, or under the Representation of the People Act, Cap. 9.
2. All eligible voters/electors granted a temporary waiver of quarantine must wear a facemask for the entire duration of the period out of their quarantine site and follow all instructions in terms of spacing and sanitization.
3. All eligible voters/electors granted a temporary waiver of quarantine must travel to the allotted polling station and from the allotted polling station in a vehicle that allows sufficient spacing between the suitably masked elector/voter and the suitably masked driver.
Procedures for electors/voters in quarantine (day 1 to day 5) and in isolation:
1. All eligible voters/electors under a quarantine/isolation order will be issued a temporary waiver of quarantine/isolation for a specified period on Nov. 5 to allow voting at the polling station allotted to them in accordance with the provisions made by or under the Representation of the People Act, Cap. 9.
2. All eligible voters/electors granted a temporary waiver of quarantine/isolation must wear a facemask for the duration of the period out of their quarantine/isolation site and follow all instructions in terms of spacing and sanitization. All polling station staff will wear full PPE (gown, mask and gloves) while interacting with these electors/voters.
3. All eligible voters/electors granted a temporary waiver of quarantine/isolation must travel to the allotted polling station and from the allotted polling station in a vehicle, which allows sufficient spacing between the suitably masked elector/voter and the suitably masked driver.
Meanwhile, the advisory said that the Health Services Subcommittee will submit to the Electoral Office a list of the names of all Commonwealth travellers 18 years and older, arriving in from Oct. 22 to Nov. 4, 2020 and subsequently quarantined.
The Electoral Office will issue a list of the eligible voters who would, in turn, be provided with a temporary waiver of quarantine/isolation.
The Supervisor of Elections and the Attorney General are in discussions in relation to the specific time period to be assigned for voting on Nov. 5 by eligible electors in quarantine or isolation.
A meeting, chaired by the Christian Council, will be held during the week of Oct. 26 to 30 with the leaders of all political parties participating in the Nov. 5 general elections, to discuss and agree on the Health Protocol for the conduct of general elections in SVG
If I am coming to SVG on the 5th November would I be able to vote?