81% of Guyanese want electoral reform -IRI poll

A recent opinion poll conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) has found that 81% of respondents believe electoral reform is necessary for Guyana.

With only 38% of respondents saying that they believe election results reflect the will of the people, the call for reform shows widespread rejection of a system that only enjoys the confidence of 38% of Guyanese.  The poll was conducted as part of the IRI’s Election Reform Project.

58% of Respondents said that electoral reforms are very necessary while 23% said it was somewhat necessary. Only 11% said that election reform was not necessary while 7% did not respond. An 8-1 ratio favors electoral reform.

Calls for electoral reform have been growing following the quagmire of the 2020 election. The result of that election is currently being challenged in the courts. Primary issues highlighted include a bloated list of electors and widespread irregularities in election documentation.

Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton has called for the Chairperson of GECOM to no longer have a vote in the Commission, as GECOM chairpersons have long been plagued with allegations of bias in favor of one party or another.

The PPP’s refusal to consult with the Opposition makes any push for electoral reform highly unlikely because any change to the Constitution requires the approval of both the government and the Opposition.

More, In The Ring.