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Hon Neville A. Smith ponders overseas voting using E-legislation

- said system would save voters the expense of having to return to VI to cast ballots
Deputy Speaker in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) in brief contributions to yesterday's March 9, 2021, debates on the Electronic Filing Act, 2019, called for legislators to consider remote voting using electronic legislation. Photo: VINO/File
For the 2019 elections in the VI, the territory for the first time implemented e-voting using e-poll books along with the DS200 Precinct Scanner and Tabulating Machine. Photo: GIS/FIle
For the 2019 elections in the VI, the territory for the first time implemented e-voting using e-poll books along with the DS200 Precinct Scanner and Tabulating Machine. Photo: GIS/FIle
DUFF'S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI - Deputy Speaker of the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) has called for legislators to consider remote voting using electronic legislation.

“It leaves me to ask a question. Since we're doing this electronic filing and we also have electronic voting, how can we take these two together... that students who are away for school don't have to make the long journey or people who are away, make that long journey to come back home to vote?” Hon Smith questioned during his brief contributions to the debate on the Electronic Filing Act, 2019 on March 9, 2021.

Earlier in the debates at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) suggested that e-legislation would pave the way for remote services using the internet, should the territory face another disaster or pandemic.

The Premier's arguments; however, focused on business services in both the public and private sectors, rather than elections.

Food for thought

Hon Smith noted; however, that his suggestion was something for legislators to ponder on.

“I think that's something, food for thought… because you know at times we have election it also would be very transparent in a way, because if they [are] away and they could get this done in a proper manner, they won't have to spend the money to come home to vote.”

At the 2019 elections in the VI, the territory for the first time implemented e-voting using e-poll books along with the DS200 Precinct Scanner and Tabulating Machine.

16 Responses to “Hon Neville A. Smith ponders overseas voting using E-legislation”

  • rewrsdffds (10/03/2021, 11:49) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    he brings this up as legislation is in line for Uk nationals and fulltime residents to vote in general elections.
    He now wants people who pay no tax and give no income to the territory to decide what happens on the islands even though they live elsewhere and work and pay tax elsewhere.

    Students I understand but nobody else.
    • hm (10/03/2021, 13:01) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
      Can we get all the dead people that voted for sleepy joe to vote?
      • @HM (10/03/2021, 14:20) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
        the only fradulent votes from Dead people were proven to be trump votes, go figure!
      • long look me come from (11/03/2021, 07:31) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
        I will vote for mr smith any day over Myron or Ronnie!!!! Sheep is humble whereby Myron overrated and Ronnie to about self
    • @ok (10/03/2021, 14:07) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      True. Last elections a number of persons who live work and pay taxes in the US, particularly, came in by the numbers and voted and left. They don’t even pay taxes or anything in the BVI. Not to mention they also capitalized on the 1st reopening where taxpayers paid for them to quarantine even though they don’t or have paid any taxes in years in the BVI. The live and work in the US but came in for all kind of occasions including to see their boyfriends/ girlfriends.
  • Nooooo! (10/03/2021, 11:57) Like (40) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why do we want to encourage people who have left the BVI behind and are not participating in the social, economic or political scene? They vacated their interests here, why do we want them to take part in deciding the future?
  • Student in Fla (10/03/2021, 12:25) Like (8) Dislike (15) Reply
    Excellent idea
  • A VOTER IN #6 (10/03/2021, 13:54) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    IM WONDERING IF WE READ UN ITS CONTEXT. I DON'T KNOW HE MEANS LOCAL WHO LIVES ABROAD IT THINKHE WAS TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS.I MAYBE WRONG.
  • black (10/03/2021, 14:42) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    You ain’t living and suffering here, you not voting here either.
    Stop opening Pandora’s box it seems like this government loves to open up doors that should stay shut.!!
    Leave well enough alone and get the problems we have fixed before creating others!
    • Oh Boy.. (10/03/2021, 15:40) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      Not now sheep, this is not the time for this,,,, People are suffering, life is hard for a lot of us, try tackle something that will ease the pressure on people,,
  • Lucifer (10/03/2021, 17:10) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    So those overseas who are not impacted by government policy and contribute nothing to the public purse get to decide who is in charge, while there is a substantial amount of the population here that pay taxes and contribute to BVI society that get no say at all. Should be giving expats the vote before floating a nonsense scheme like this.
  • sheeep (10/03/2021, 17:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    bah bah baaaaahhhhh
  • shepherd (10/03/2021, 17:16) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    This dude really living up to his name. Sheep
    • Ghut Man (11/03/2021, 01:19) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      At least he much better than funny man I sticking with smith yall
  • east (10/03/2021, 18:26) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    Hon smith is a good man we voting for him again


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