Polling Day
Role and Duties of the Police at General Elections and “Polling Day”
The Royal Grenada Police Force has a fundamental responsibility to preserve the peace and to maintain law and order throughout the tri-island State of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique and during elections their role is no different.
It is imperative however, as we approach polling day that we sensitize the general public, making them aware of the role of the police and their responsibilities as citizens according to the Laws of Grenada appertaining to General Elections.
These laws are according to: –
- The Representation of the People’s Act 35 of 1993
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Public Meeting Prohibition & Control Act Chapter 266 of Vol. V1
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Public Order Act Chapter 267 of Vol. V1 of the Revised Laws of Grenada
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The Representation of the People’s Act 35 of 1993
Section 49: Hours of taking the poll
The taking of the poll at each polling station shall be between six o’ clock in the forenoon and five o’clock in the afternoon of the same day (6:00 am to 5:00pm).
Intoxicating Liquor not to be sold
Section 81 states: –
81 (1) No intoxicating liquor shall be sold, offered for sale, or given away, at any premises situate in any constituency in which an election is being held and to which a license issued under the Liquor Dealer Licenses Act applies, at any time between the opening and closing of the poll day on polling day.
(2) No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied to any person at any premises situate in any constituency in which an election is being held and to which a license is issued under the Registration of the Club Act applies, at any time between the opening and closing of the poll on polling day.
(3) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of either of the last two preceding sub-sections shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of five hundred dollars or imprisonment for six months.
Loudspeakers, ensigns, banners, etc. prohibited
Section 84 states: –
84 (1) No person shall furnish or supply any loudspeaker, bunting, ensign, standard, or set of colors or any other flag, to any person with intent that it shall be carried, worn or used on motor cars, trucks other vehicles, or otherwise in public as political propaganda, on polling day, and no person shall with any such intent, carry, wear, or use, on motor cars, trucks, other vehicles or otherwise in public any such loudspeaker, bunting, ensign, banner, standard or set colors, or any other flag on polling day.
(2) No person shall furnish or supply any flag, ribbon, label or like favor to or for any person with intent that it should be worn or used by any person in public within any constituency on polling day, as a party badge to distinguish the wearer as the supporter of any candidate, or the political or other opinion entertained or supposed to be entertained by such candidate; and no person shall use, wear any flag, ribbon, label, or other favor as such badge in public within any constituency on polling day.
(3) Nothing contained in sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be deemed to extend to the furnishing or supplying of any banner bearing only the name of any candidate or only such name precede by the words “vote for” or any rosette or of any favor bearing the symbol allotted to any candidate or to the use of any such banner on any vehicle.
Maintenance of Order at Polling Stations
Section 85 states: –
85 (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) during the hours when poll is open election day no person shall assemble or congregate within one hundred yards of any building which is situate any polling station.
(2) This section shall not apply to –
- any electors who are waiting to cast their votes at such polling station and who obey any instructions which may be given by the presiding officer or any member of the Police Force for the purpose of forming a queue with other electors also so waiting; or
- any person who may under the provisions of this Act lawfully enter or remain in such polling station.
Influencing Electors to vote for any candidate
Section 86 states: –
86 (1) During the hours that the poll is open upon election day no person shall upon any public road or in any public place or in any place or building with the intent of influencing the public within one hundred (100) yards of any building in which a polling station is situate seek to influence any elector to vote for any candidate or to ascertain for which candidate any elector intends to vote or has voted.
Section 87: Bribery
The following persons shall be deemed guilty of bribery within the meaning of this Act –
- Every person who, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, gives, lend, or agrees to give or lend, or offers promises, or promises to procure or to endeavor to procure any money or valuable consideration to or for any elector, or to or for any person on behalf of any elector, or for any other person in order to induce any elector to vote or refrain from voting, or corruptly does any such act as aforesaid on account of any elector having voted or refrained from voting at any election.
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Every person who, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, gives or procure, or agrees to give or procure, or offers promises, or promises to procure or endeavor to procure, any office, place of employment to or for any elector, or to for any person on behalf of any elector, or to for any other person in order to induce such elector to vote or refrain from voting, or corruptly does such act as aforesaid on account of any elector having voted or refrained from voting at any election.
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Every person who, directly or indirectly, by himself or by another person on his behalf make such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement as aforesaid to or for any person, in order to induce such person to procure, or endeavor to procure, the return of any person as an elected member of the House of Representatives or the vote of any elector at any election.
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Every person who, upon or in consequence of any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement, procures or engages, promises or endeavors to procure the return of any person as an elected member of the House of Representatives or the vote of any elector at any election.
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Every person who advances or pays, or caused to be paid, any money to or to the use of any other person with the intent that such money, or any part thereof, shall be expended in bribery at any election, or who knowingly pays or cause to be paid, any money to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part expended in bribery at any such election.
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Every elector who, before or during any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receives, agrees, or contracts for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, offer, place of employment for himself or for any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at any such election.
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Every person who, after any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receives any money or valuable consideration on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting or having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting at any such election.
For Additional Information
Visit us @ Police Headquarters Fort George St. George’s
Call us at telephone numbers +473.440.3764, 3999 ext. 114 & 163
E-mail us at crd (@) rgpf.gd