Carter Center Report Exposes Dangerous Delays in Electoral Reform as Political Advantage Trumps Democracy

BY: Staff— Writer

𝙏𝙝𝙚 592 𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣.    

The Carter Center has called for urgent constitutional and electoral reforms in Guyana ahead of the next General and Regional Elections, citing critical gaps in campaign financing, use of state resources, and electoral oversight.

In its final report on the 2025 elections, the international observer body urged Guyana to modernize its electoral framework to better align with international democratic standards. Central to its recommendations is the introduction of clear legislation governing party and campaign financing, along with stronger safeguards against the misuse of state resources and unequal access to state media during election periods.

The report raised specific concern that the ruling party appeared to benefit from biased state media coverage, undermining the principle of equitable treatment among contesting parties. It also highlighted a lack of transparency in campaign financing and noted that only four of the six participating political parties signed the code of conduct.

While campaigning remained largely peaceful, the Carter Center flagged issues that could discourage political participation, including what it described as over-compliance by local banks with U.S. sanctions, which adversely affected one political party.

Despite these concerns, election day procedures were positively assessed. Observers reported that polling stations opened on time in a calm environment, with orderly voting despite long lines in some areas. The conduct of polling was rated highly, with no major irregularities observed.
The Center also commended recent legislative changes to the tabulation process, noting that these reforms improved efficiency and transparency, helping to ensure that final results reflected the will of the electorate.

However, Carter Center Chairman Jason Carter warned that unresolved issues—particularly around campaign financing and spending—continue to erode public confidence in the electoral system. He stressed that Guyana’s growing oil revenues make it even more critical to establish clear boundaries between state resources and political campaigning, alongside greater transparency in political donations.

Among its key recommendations, the Carter Center called for:
• An independent audit of the voters’ list well ahead of the next elections

• Reform of campaign finance laws to enhance transparency and accountability

• Stronger enforcement mechanisms to prevent abuse of state resources

• Improved media fairness and oversight during election periods

• Reconstitution of the Constitutional Reform Commission to reflect current political realities and prioritize electoral reform
The report also pointed to structural concerns within the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), noting that its politically divided composition remains a persistent challenge to electoral credibility.

Additionally, the Center observed a 5% decline in voter turnout compared to the 2020 elections, despite an expanded voters’ list—raising further questions about public trust and engagement in the electoral process.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 592 𝙂𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣-𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 , 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙄𝙣 𝙂𝙪𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨.— ✦—