Many respondents to last week’s caymancompass.com online poll said the issue of single-member constituencies, or “one man, one vote,” will not affect the way they vote if the voting system is not introduced by the current government.
After subtracting the poll respondents who said they were not registered voters in the Cayman Islands, 120 of the remaining 267 would-be voters (44.94 percent) said the issue would have no bearing on their vote, with many of them commenting that they were against the idea of single-member constituencies and/or the concept of one man, one vote.
“I’m fine with the old system,” said one person. “I already vote in East End and it will be no benefit to us there; with the old way or the new way we still end up with one vote and have the largest geographic area on the island.”
“If the public wanted OMOV, the referendum would have passed,” said someone else. “Cayman is so small we should do away with voting districts all together and have a national vote. Everyone can vote for three people and the 15 (which is plenty) with the most votes get in.”
“We are too small a nation to divide the country into small slices that will promote parochialism,” said another respondent. “Why can’t we have one man, one man one vote without single member constituencies?”
“I do not vote along party lines,” noted one respondent. “I vote based on each candidate’s potential to improve our country. I happen to think since the introduction of parties, our government has fallen into chaos and I would prefer to see the system drop parties completely. Then those in office may just actually have to play well with others and accomplish something. I would also stagger the terms so you don’t wind up with a completely new government every four years.”
The second largest segment of respondents – 97 people or 36.3 percent of the potential voters – said they would vote against all the PPM candidates if single-member constituencies were not introduced.
“If they can’t keep their promise now, they definitely won’t be keeping promises at the next election,” said one person.
Thirty-one people, 11.6 percent, said they would still vote for all PPM candidates even if single-member constituencies weren’t introduced.
“As far as I can tell, the PPM support single member constituencies,” said one person. “Just how small appears to be a concern. That is an issue we should all watch carefully. If/when consensus can be reached, I am confident they will move our voting system forward.”
Another 19 people – 7.1 percent of the would-be voters – responded ‘other’ to the question, with many saying they would only vote for one candidate even though they live in districts where they’re allowed to vote for more.
“I will vote for one person only, like I did in the last election,” said one respondent.
“I vote in George Town and will exercise my right and only vote for one person, not six,” said someone else.
“My wife and I had five votes each in last election and we only cast one each, spoiling the other four,” said another respondent. “It’s no impact for us given the shortage of candidates with genuine public interests at heart.”
There were several other comments made.
“I have always voted for a person or persons,” said one person. “Their party affiliation is a low influencing factor.”
“I will vote only for the two in Bodden Town that support One Man, One Vote,” said someone else.
“I will vote for anyone new,” said another person. “Clean out the old!”
“I will vote for the candidates that support the immediate implementation of OMOV,” commented one person. “I will not vote for the PPM or UDP. They are the same.”
“I still won’t vote for anyone in a party,” said another person.
“Regardless who we vote for, it all seems to benefit their pockets and not our country’s wellbeing,” said someone else.
“Neither one man one vote, nor the party system is the answer for true, good, outstanding statesmen in the Cayman Islands,” said another respondent. “In my opinion, political parties have more or less ruined good statesmanship to serve the Cayman Islands and our native Caymanian people and other residents the way we should be honestly represented.”
Sixty-one people – 18.6 percent of the total – who participated in the poll said they weren’t registered voters in the Cayman Islands. Only one left a comment.
“I will be a voter in a few years and I can tell you one thing, I’ll never vote for a single PPM candidate. Ever.”
Next week’s poll question
- What would you do if a major hurricane approaches the Cayman Islands?
- Stay in my home/apartment
- Fly off island
- Go to a government hurricane shelter
- Stay with friends
- Take shelter at my workplace
- Other (write in comments)
To participate in this poll, visit caymancompass.com.
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