Some 200 residents of the Virgin Islands voted in the Mock Elections on Wednesday using the DS200 Precinct Scanner and Tabulating Machine.

Voters on Tortola and Virgin Gorda were able to test the machines first hand to see their reactions to occurrences ranging from spoilt ballots to under and over voting.

Supervisor of Elections Ms. Juliette Penn said, “The DS200 Precinct Scanner and Tabulating Machine will increase the efficiency of the process throughout the entire Territory. The use of the DS200 Precinct Scanner and Tabulating Machine went extremely well and persons responded to it positively.”

The DS200 Precinct Scanner and Tabulating Machine also tallied the votes in real time in addition to having the physical copies of the votes which allowed the results of the mock elections to be given within a short time after the polls were closed. The machines also use encrypted data that allows the results to be taken from one location to another as well as giving the operators the option to print the results on-site.

 In addition to the machine, the implementation of the E-Poll Book will give the Office of the Supervisor of Elections the ability to effectively eliminate the possibility of persons attempting to vote in multiple districts. Once a voter registers and votes in one district, they will not be able to vote in another district on that day.

Approximately 199 voters witnessed the demonstration on Tortola. The results were given before 2:30 p.m. just after the polls were closed. Ms. Penn said this method is more efficient and saves time when compared to the traditional way of tallying votes which would normally take a few hours.

Approximately 30 voters participated in the demonstration in Virgin Gorda at the Catholic Community Centre. The results were released before 7:30 p.m.

The Office of the Supervisor of Elections will continue to work towards being an organisation that operates a well-developed, recognised and influential electoral system that will enhance the electoral process and the development of the Territory.

Attached:
Photos 1-2 Road Town Mock Elections (Photo credit: GIS/ Ronnielle Frazer)
Photos 3-4 Virgin Gorda Mock Elections (Photo credit: GIS/ Ronnielle Frazer)