While things went relatively well during Monday’s election under the circumstances, there were a few minor hiccups that could be examined further and from which valuable lessons may be learned. For one thing, persons were asked to temporarily hand over their mobile phones and bags before going into the voting booths at some polls, but not all.
Perhaps partly resulting from this apparent inconsistency, pictures later circulated of what looks like a voter taking photos of their filled-in ballot that could serve as proof and invoices in cases of vote-buying as happened in the past. However, such potential irregularities seem to have been few and far between this time around.
It’s also a complicated matter, as courts in the Netherlands have upheld the right of citizens to take so-called “selfies” with their ballots. Considering recent experience locally it was nevertheless thought necessary to stop the use of electronic devices inside the polling stations, although one must keep in mind that the state remains responsible for safekeeping such private possessions.
The confusion with voting cards was mainly a consequence of problems Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) had in delivering these due to damage it suffered, but also seeing the many empty broken homes and residents displaced by the natural disaster. If possible, the process to be able to give out a duplicate at the correct polling station should be simplified for the future.
The minimum distance of 200 metres political supporters were to keep from the polls was interpreted in different ways too. Some said it was from the door to the actual room, while others maintained it was from the entrance of the entire property.
But the overall voting process ran quite smoothly and no major incidents to speak of occurred. That does not mean there is no room left for improvement, because what is good can always get better.
