Voters Reminded Of Polling Day Regulations

As Barbadians prepare to go to the polls on January 15, 2008, the Electoral and Boundaries Commission is reminding voters of a number of rules and regulations which pertain to activities for polling day.

The Supervisor of Elections advises that it is an offence to sell, offer, expose for sale or give away intoxicating liquor on polling day at any premises in the constituency to which a licence issued under the Liquor Licence Act. Cap. 182 applies, or to supply liquor to any person on the premises of a club, at any time between the opening and closing of the poll.

The use of loudspeakers, bunting, bands of music, flags, party badges, etc. as political propaganda is forbidden and persons are prohibited from assembling or congregating within 100 yards of any polling station during the hours when the polI is open.

Employers are also reminded that under law, they must allow their workers "a period of not less than one hour for voting". In addition, "no employer shall make any deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such elector, or impose upon or exact from him any penalty by reason of his absence during such period."

The Act further states that where an employee is normally paid on an hourly, piece-work or other similar basis, the hours of his employment on polling day remain the same.

Any employer who directly or indirectly refuses, or by intimidation, undue influence or in any other way interferes with the granting to an elector in his employ the period of voting, is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500 or to imprisonment for six months.

Information provided by the Barbados Government Information Service