Voting begins in Trinidad and Tobago’s snap election

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Special electors, including police and election day workers, were this morning casting their ballots ahead of the May 24 general election, according to the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC).

Chief Election Officer Howard Cayenne said that the special electors would vote daily until Sunday for a new government after Prime Minister Patrick Manning called the general election more than two years ahead of the constitutional deadline.

Manning’s incumbent People’s National Movement is facing a strong challenge from an amalgam of five opposition parties and trade unions led by the main opposition United National Congress (UNC) for control of the 41-seat Parliament.

In the last Parliament, the PNM enjoyed a 26-15 majority.

Cayenne said that the special voters will cast their ballots at the offices of the returning officers at each of the 41 electoral districts, telling reporters “all systems are go for the May 24 election”.

He said that the revised list of voters will also be made available at the EBC offices and advised voters to ensure that their names appear on the list.

In the 2007 general election, 990,467 persons were registered to vote.

Meanwhile, Acting Commissioner of Police, James Philbert said police officers would be out in full force to ensure there are no disturbances during the election period.