Commonwealth observers report no evidence of election manipulation

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has found no evidence that inflation of the voter list was leveraged for electoral manipulation in Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections, but recommended consideration of biometric voter registration for future elections.

The group, deployed from 23 August to 7 September 2025, observed the 1 September elections and engaged with political leaders, electoral authorities, security forces, civil society, media, and international partners across seven regions. The deployment followed a pre-election assessment mission by the Commonwealth Secretariat in July 2025.

COG noted that Guyana’s Official List of Electors (OLE) had been the subject of speculation due to its size of 757,690 in comparison with United Nations population projections of roughly 826,354. While some stakeholders questioned the list’s accuracy, the mission found no substantiated link to electoral manipulation. Factors contributing to the list’s size include a significant diaspora population and legal restrictions on removing non-resident voters.

The group also highlighted the absence of biometric verification during the elections. Stakeholders, including political parties, had called for the introduction of biometric voter registration to verify identities at polling stations. GECOM cited technical, legislative, and administrative challenges as barriers but indicated it would explore feasibility post-election. The COG recommended that future reforms be inclusive, transparent, and consider the needs of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

The Commonwealth Observer Group’s deployment is part of the organization’s long-standing support for Guyana’s electoral process, including the provision of high-level technical assistance and electoral experts in previous elections.