No evidence of “bloated” voters’ list manipulating Guyana’s 2025 elections – Commonwealth observers

The Commonwealth Observer mission which was in Guyana for the September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections has found no evidence to substantiate Opposition claims that a “bloated” voters’ list was used to manipulate the outcome of the poll.

In its final report on the electoral process, the Commonwealth Observer mission, in addressing one of the most persistent narratives raised throughout the election cycle by the opposition parties, the observers stated unequivocally that no proof has emerged to suggest that the size of the Official List of Electors (OLE) was leveraged for electoral manipulation.

“No evidence of leveraging voter roll inflation for electoral manipulation has been substantiated to date,” the report concluded.

The OLE became the subject of intense speculation before and during the elections, with repeated claims by the Opposition that the list was “bloated.” At the time of the polls, the OLE stood at 757,690 registered electors, compared to a population estimate of approximately 826,353 based on United Nations (UN) population projections. The Commonwealth mission noted that while the numerical comparison raised questions among stakeholders, the reasons for the mismatch were not always widely understood, contributing to misinformation and mistrust.

The observers explained that multiple structural and legal factors account for the discrepancy between population estimates and the voters’ list.

Under current legislation, Guyanese living abroad remain on the voters’ list, even though there are no legal provisions for diaspora voting. Court rulings have further restricted the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from removing voters from the list solely on the basis of non-residency, effectively preserving the names of overseas citizens on the OLE.

“These legal safeguards limit the degree to which GECOM can remove names from the list through other pathways,” the report stated. The Commonwealth observers confirmed that records from the Registrar of Births and Deaths were shared with GECOM, allowing for the removal of deceased persons from the voters’ list. However, they noted that additional mechanisms remain incomplete. Although legislation exists to allow death reports from the Commissioner of Police and the Chief Medical Officer to be used to identify deceased voters, the operational framework to activate this process has not yet been finalised. As a result, the Commission’s ability to further refine the list remains legally constrained.

Looking ahead, the Commonwealth observer group recommended renewed consideration of biometric voter registration and verification early in the next election cycle.

Section 9(1) of the National Registration Act already authorises GECOM to implement biometric registration, while the Data Protection Act 2023 provides safeguards for the handling of personal data. However, the observers cautioned that institutional capacity and data governance infrastructure may not yet be sufficiently robust. During preparations for the 2025 polls, GECOM acknowledged the benefits of biometric verification but cited legislative, technical, and administrative obstacles that prevented its implementation. “GECOM has indicated that it will look at the feasibility of initiating biometric voter registration over the post-election period,” the report said. The observers stressed that any move toward biometrics must involve inclusive and transparent legal reform, with particular attention paid to persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.