Posted by Eleuthera Informer on September 04, 2001 at 16:18:07:
From the Nassau Guardian:
On Thursday, August 23, the Eleuthera Advocate contacted the Parliamentary Registrar for a status report on Eleuthera's Voter Registration.
With just four weeks remaining, Eleutherans seem to be proving that old Bahamian adage: "You know Bahamians, they always do everything the last minute."
The last register for Eleuthera totaled 6,177 registered voters with 3,366 in the North Eleuthera Constituency and 2,811 in the South Eleuthera Constituency.
On Thursday, August 24, the current register showed some 1,835 registered voters in North Eleuthera and some 1,613 in South Eleuthera, or (54%) and (57%) of the total number of registered voters on the old list for North and South Eleuthera respectively. Those numbers represent a total of (55%) of the voter's registered on Eleuthera's old register.
The Eleuthera Advocate questioned some Eleutherans on whether they had registered yet and if not why not? One gentlemen indicated that he "just hadn't gotten around to it yet."
Another suggested that "he was waiting until he saw who the candidates were going to be... then he would decide whether to vote or not. If he didn't like who was nominated he may not register at all."
A lady said that "this is back to school time and I don't understand why the Prime Minister made it back to election time too. As a single mother, I can barely manage all that it takes to get my children ready for school, not to think about long lines to register too. I'll think about that after school opens."
Still another Eleutheran described August as vacation time for most Eleutherans. She said that she too would focus on registration after school re-opened for the fall term.
An economist asserted that the low voter registration is indicative of the apathy of the Bahamian voter. He suggest that voters, while experiencing the best economic times in the history of The Bahamas, are not all that motivated to register.
He said that Bahamians seem to be more and more like their sister nations, of North America and Europe where voter registration and electoral turn outs are low.
A political analyst suggested that the low voter registration is caused by dissatisfaction with the way the nation is being governed or with the failure of opposition forces to muster a plan, vision, platform and slate of candidates that will stimulate any interest in them.
Others say that the FNM will win so why register? It won't matter anyway.
Lest we too soon forget what happened in Florida's voting in the United States National Elections where so many persons felt that their vote didn't matter... until the results of the Florida Voters and Electoral counts were announced. Then, when it was too late, they understood what their vote really meant.
Or even closer to home. The FNM's Election on Thursday, August 16, for Leader -Designate, was a real cliff hanger. With just 1 vote separating the majority vote holder from achieving 50% +1 of the votes. Imagine if just one or two voters had sat that one out! The FNM would have been back at the polls on Friday, August 17, and the outcome may have been far different.
We asked Mr. Earle Bethel, Parliamentary Registrar, for information on the Eleuthera Registration.
"Non-registered persons eighteen years and over, who have been residents of Eleuthera for the past three months or more, have just four weeks to register. In North Eleuthera residents can register at the Spanish Wells, Harbour Island or Bogue Administration Buildings. "Locations for registration in South Eleuthera, include the Administration Buildings in Governor's Harbour, and Rock Sound".
"All those seeking to register must provide proof of citizenship, and residency to the Registration personnel noted Mr. Bethel.
With just four weeks to go, Eleutherans need to get out and register. If you are not registered by September 28, you will not be allowed to vote. Register to vote today!