The Elections Office is warning residents to be vigilant of people impersonating its staff and carrying out surveys at homes in Cayman.
The Elections Office, in a statement on Tuesday, advised the public to call the police if they encounter any would-be fraudsters knocking on their doors after reports that people were visiting various districts “falsely claiming to be employees of the Elections Office and conducting political surveys”.
“The public is advised that the Elections Office is not conducting door-to-door surveys. Genuine Elections Office staff are always identifiable by their official identification badges and uniforms,” the statement said.
The Elections Office, which is in the process of preparing for the 30 April general election, said it had received multiple reports of people claiming to be its staff conducting surveys.
It reminded the public that “canvassing or surveying” residents for information about voting preferences is not illegal.
“However, falsely claiming to be from the Elections Office or misrepresenting oneself as a government official is a criminal offence,” it said.
“This offence carries a penalty of up to four years imprisonment, ensuring that those who attempt such fraudulent acts will face severe consequences,” it added.
The Elections Office said if a member of the public believes someone is impersonating an official, they should call the RCIPS on 949-4222 and report it immediately.
“If you feel threatened or sense immediate danger from someone approaching you, please call 911,” it added.
Over 1,600 new voters apply for electoral roll
More than 1,600 new voters have registered to get on the 1 April electoral list which will be used for the 30 April general election.
Based on Elections Office projections, the additions will bring the total up to 25,500 registered electors, a record high for the Cayman Islands.
The new voter registration applications were among 2,500 forms processed at the Elections Office from October till now, according to a statement from Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell on Friday.
“A few hundred submissions [are] still outstanding. Over 1,600 new voter registrations and nearly 900 change forms have been received since October,” the statement said.
The Elections Office said it is continuing to validate and process applications ahead of the publication of the revised list of electors on 29 Jan.
However, some applications remain incomplete due to missing information or documents.
The statement said individuals who are missing key details have been contacted by the office via phone or email.
“We are working hard to ensure all eligible voters who submitted forms can participate in the democratic process. If you’ve been contacted about missing documents required for registration, please supply them as soon as possible; otherwise, your application may be rejected,” Howell told the Cayman Compass Friday regarding the ongoing verification exercise.
The Elections Office said it has also received a high volume of emails and is still processing submissions from 15 Jan. 2025.
“Members of the public who submitted voter registration or change of address forms, or had voter registration-related queries on or before this date, and have not received a response, are encouraged to contact the office by phone immediately,” it said.
Those who have not received a reply can call the Elections Office at 244-5400 or 949-8047 for assistance.
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