Hughes estimates fewer than 20 transfers to St. Mary’s list; Simon says matching names to faces will be undertaken

While the United Progressive Party (UPP) has expressed concerns
about the seemingly high number of new voters on the St. Mary’s

South register, Ian Hughes, the supervisor of elections, says the
process was totally legitimate.
 
In fact, Hughes says, these registrations date as far back as
December 2022. And, he adds, the register that was used for the
January 18 General Election was up until November 30.
 
Based on the continuous registration process, during the period
from December 2022 to August 31, 2023 – which was the cut-off
point – 94 persons came in to be registered, Hughes states.
 
Additionally, during that time, there were persons who applied for
transfers.

Consequently, Hughes says, there were 2,707 persons on the St.
Mary’s South voters register at the end of August.
 
However, he notes, several people requested transfers between
May and August this year; so the number of eligible voters could
increase, although by fewer than 20.
 
Hughes adds that the removal of deceased persons from the register
must also be factored.
 
The most important thing to note is that the Electoral Commission,
in Hughes’ opinion, will be affording the public sufficient time to go
through the list.
 
He is reminding residents that the period for claims and objections
ended on October 3. So no objection to the names appearing on the
Register for Elections can be filed now.
 

The Supervisor says that a draft of the register to be used for the by-
election will be published on the evening of October 10, while the
revised register will be available the following day, October 11.
 
By October 12, the public and the political parties will be able to
access a copy, ahead of the October 24 poll.
 
Meanwhile, Kelvin “Shugy” Simon, the United Progressive Party
(UPP) candidate for St. Mary’s South, says he and his team have a
copy of the list of new registrants and they are thoroughly combing
through it.
 
So far, he says, it looks good for the Party in terms of support.
 
However, he says the UPP is still canvassing everyone and will not
drop the ball in putting a face to every name on the list, which is the
assignment going forward.
 
Now that there is a new supplementary list, the Party has to check
every single name to make sure it should be on the St. Mary’s South
register, he says.