Governor Julia Crouch has appointed Orrette Fisher to conduct an independent review on the advance voting process during Anguilla’s recent general election.
He was on island last week to gather information from key stakeholders, the Governor’s Office said in a statement on 3 April.
Fisher will use the data to compile a report, which is expected to be delivered before the end of April. The governor will then publish a summary of its findings.
On 25 February, elections supervisor Rodney Rey admitted in an online interview that he had “wrongfully and inadvertently” allowed some people to register for advance voting past the official deadline.
He said he had hoped to use his discretion for those who had genuine reasons for late registration, but said he was “wrong” and did not have the power under law.
‘Concerning matter’
Opposition leader Ellis Webster wrote a letter to the governor, which was forwarded to press on 7 March, in which he said he wanted to bring focus to what he described as misconduct.
He said it was a “gravely concerning matter” and reminded the governor that she has ultimate oversight of the electoral process.
“It is your responsibility to act swiftly and meaningfully when you are aware of gross misconduct and breaches of our electoral law,” Webster wrote.
He said the expectation was that she would commission an investigation into the incident and the Central Electoral Office.
In a statement on 14 March, Crouch said she had confirmed plans to commission an independent review to be carried out in the “interests of transparency”.
Independent reviewer
Jamaican national Fisher is a former director of elections at the Electoral Commission in Jamaica and a Commonwealth electoral observer in Antigua and Barbuda.
Now an independent consultant in elections management and training, several organisations have contracted him to provide consultancy, administrative and technical support.
These include the Commonwealth secretariat, the CARICOM secretariat, the International Foundation of Electoral Systems and the International Republican Institute.
He has conducted in-person comprehensive consultations for national elections in Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St Eustacius and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Fisher has also participated in or led electoral observer missions to several countries including to the 2008 United States presidential election.
