Issuing of Writs Sets Stage for General Election

09-Dec-2020

His Excellency the Governor, Martyn Roper, today (Wednesday, 9 December) issued writs to 19 Returning Officers, setting the stage for conducting the General Election next year.

With almost five months to go before Election Day, the Governor presented the writs to the Returning Officers and Deputy Returning Officers in the presence of senior Elections Office officials, including Supervisor Wesley Howell.

Addressing those in attendance, the Governor reflected on the landmark nature of the 2021 General Election. “This is the first Cayman Islands General Election during my tenure as Governor. It is of historical significance given the recent constitutional amendments as the first General Election where voters are electing Members of Parliament. The metaphorical starting gun has now been fired for May 2021’s election,” said Mr. Roper.

“The Cayman Islands Elections Office has a proud history of conducting well run Elections that are free and fair, in line with international best practice. These elections will build further on that record. The role of the Returning Officers and Deputy Returning Officers is crucial. I thank them for their outstanding service to our communities.”

Returning Officers are responsible for the organisation and conduct of elections in their respective districts. Writs are the documents the Governor issues to the Returning Officers commanding them to conduct an election in accordance with Section 28(2) of the Elections Law (2017 Revision).

 In accordance with the 2021 General Elections Programme, Nomination Day will be held on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. The General Elections is to be held in the 19 electoral districts on Wednesday, 26 May 2021.

These writs will be returned to the Governor following the election with the name of the candidate who has been elected to serve in that electoral district.

Editors Notes

The remaining election activities are outlined below.

A list of the 19 Returning Officers and the electoral districts are listed below.

Voter Registration Deadline Extended

18-Dec-2020

His Excellency the Governor, Martyn Roper has given his approval to extend the next voter registration deadline to Wednesday, 20 January 2021.

This deadline is the last opportunity for the members of the public to register to vote before the 2021 General Election on Wednesday, 26 May 2021.

“For some, 2021 will be their first opportunity to have their say in Cayman’s democracy including many who turned 18 after 2017. By extending the deadline, we hope to encourage more Caymanians to come forward to register and exercise their right to vote in the next General Election,” commented Mr. Roper.

Individuals wanting to register to vote can contact their Registering Officer, visit www.elections.ky, call 949-8047 or visit the Elections Office at Bay Town Suites, George Town.

Contact details for each district’s registering officer is provided below.

• Bethany Powery – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 516-4402 (West Bay North, West Bay South, West Bay West, West Bay Central)
• Kathryn Myles This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 516-2117 (George Town North, George Central, George Town West, George Town East, George Town South, Red Bay, Prospect)
• Kerry Nixon This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 516-4478 (Savannah, Newlands, Bodden Town West, Bodden Town East)
• Leisa Welcome This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 516-4647 (East End)
• Patricia Ebanks This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 516-4349 (North Side)
• Ellen Lazzari This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 516-5307 (Cayman Brac East, Cayman Brac West)

Voter Registration Drive Ramps Up

06-Jan-2021

The deadline to register to vote in the May 2021 General Election is Wednesday, 20 January.

The current Official List of Electors dated 1 January 2021 includes 22,241 electors, some 1,014 more voters than the list used in the 2017 General Election which included 21,227 individuals eligible to vote.

Since 2 October 2020, 345 voter registration forms and 259 change of details forms have been received by the Elections Office as of noon Tuesday, 5 January. These forms, along with those that are received on or before 20 January 2021, will be vetted and processed by the Registering Officers for inclusion in the 1 April 2021 list of electors to be used for the next General Election.

            To further encourage registration in the new year, the Elections Office has taken steps to make it even easier for individuals to register.

Individuals wishing to register to vote can contact their Registering Officer, visit www.elections.ky, call 949-8047 or visit the Elections Office at Bay Town Office Suites, George Town. To facilitate greater demand, the Elections Office has extended their opening hours as follows.

• Wednesday, 6 January - 9am to 7pm
• Saturday, 9 January – 10am to 2pm
• Monday, 11 January to Friday, 15 January – 9am to 7pm
• Saturday, 16 January – 10am to 2pm
• Monday, 18 January to Wednesday, 20 January – 9am to 7pm

In addition, staff members will be available to register individuals on weekdays and weekends at the following supermarket locations.

Hurley’s Market - Grand Harbour  

• Wednesday, 6 January – 4pm to 8pm
• Wednesday, 13 January – 4pm to 8pm

Foster’s - Countryside

• Saturday, 9 January – 10am to 4pm
• Thursday, 14 January – 3pm to 8pm
• Saturday, 16 January – 10am to 4pm

Foster’s – Camana Bay

• Saturday, 9 January – 11am to 3pm
• Thursday, 14 January – 4:30pm to 7:30pm
• Saturday, 16 January – 11am to 3pm

Foster’s – Republix

• Saturday, 9 January – 10am to 4pm
• Thursday, 14 January – 4pm to 7pm
• Saturday, 16 January – 10am to 4pm

Foster’s – Airport

• Saturday, 16 January – 10am to 2pm

Commenting on the recent voter registration drive, Supervisor of Elections, Wesley Howell said, “Our aim, as always, is to make registration as easy as possible for those wishing to vote while maintaining the highest levels of accuracy and confidence in the process. Elections Office staff are very happy to walk individuals through the simple process of registering to vote at any of our convenient locations. I wish to thank the clubs, groups and civic minded individuals that are engaging in voter registration drives on their own as well.”

“To facilitate a smooth and easy process and avoid additional follow up appointments, we ask the members of the public looking to register at supermarket locations to bring all the required identification documents with them when registering.”

The identification documents required to register is based on your Caymanian status as outlined below.

Caymanian status holder:

1)    Birth Certificate
2)    Caymanian Status Certificate /Letter.

3)    Photo ID: Passport or Driver’s License

Caymanian born and have Caymanian parent/s or grandparent:

1)    Birth Certificate of applicant, if born in the Islands, and
2)    Birth Certificate of one of his parents or grandparents that was born in the Islands

3)    Photo ID: Passport or Driver’s License

Caymanian with an acknowledgement letter from Immigration or WORC:

1)    Birth Certificate of applicant
2)    Acknowledgement letter from WORC/Immigration

3)    Photo ID: Passport or Driver’s License

Information about who can register to vote and further information about how to register can be found at elections.ky.

Contact details for each district’s registering officer is provided below.

• Bethany Powery – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 516-4402 (West Bay North, West Bay South, West Bay West, West Bay Central)
• Kathryn Myles This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 516-2117 (George Town North, George Central, George Town West, George Town East, George Town South, Red Bay, Prospect)
• Kerry Nixon This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 516-4478 (Savannah, Newlands, Bodden Town West, Bodden Town East)
• Leisa Welcome This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 516-4647 (East End)
• Patricia Ebanks This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 516-4349 (North Side)
• Ellen Lazzari This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 516-5307 (Cayman Brac East, Cayman Brac West)

Elections Office Extented Hours Update

27-Nov-2020

Starting Saturday, 28 November 2020, the Elections Office will open every Saturday from 10a.m. to 2p.m. for the purposes of voter registration and issuing voter IDs.

Also from this Saturday, elections officers will also be at Fosters Countryside from 10a.m. to 4p.m. Additional visits to Countryside will take place on 2, 5, 12 and 19 December.

Finally from 2 December 2020, the Elections Office will remain open until 7p.m. every Wednesday.