Candidates contesting the 2023 General Elections in Virgin Islands (VI) are being notified that there is to be no campaigning on Election Day, April 24, 2023, as specified under the Elections Act.
Campaigning prohibited
“No person shall carry, wear, furnish, supply or use on motor cars, trucks or other vehicles, any such loudspeaker, bunting, ensign, banner, standard or set of colours, or any other flag on Polling Day," a notice from the elections office as specified in the act.
Additionally, during the hours that polls are open, no person within 100 yards of a building in which a polling station is situated shall seek to influence a voter to vote for a candidate, or to ascertain what candidate a voter intends to vote for or has voted,” it added.
Further, the sale of alcohol is also prohibited on election day between the opening and the closing of the poll on polling day. Polling stations will operate on April 24 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Section 64 (1) of the Elections Act, 1994 states: “No intoxicating liquor shall be sold, offered for sale, or given away at any premises situated in any electoral district in which an election is being held to which a licence issued under the Liquor Licences Ordinance applies, at any time between the opening and the closing of the poll on polling day.”
Meanwhile, employers are also being urged to allow workers sufficient time to vote on elections day.
Staff allowed time to vote
Meanwhile, employers are also being urged to allow workers sufficient time to vote on elections day.
“Employers are reminded that in accordance with Section 65 (1) of the Elections Act, 1994: “Every employer shall on polling day, allow every voter in his employ a reasonable period for voting, and no employer shall make any deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such voter or impose upon or exact from him any penalty by reason of his absence during such period.”
The notice added that an employer who interferes with the granting to any voter in his employ of such period for voting shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500) and to imprisonment for six (6) months.