Quarantined people will be able to vote in the Bahamas
Under a new amendment to the emergency order signed by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, any person who is in quarantine and is registered to vote in the general election “may leave his place of quarantine” to vote.
However, that person must immediately return to his place of quarantine after voting.
The decision to allow quarantined voters the ability to vote comes after weeks of uncertainty.
Quarantined voters must ensure that they wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth, sanitizes their hands, and maintains a distance of six feet from other people – mandatory provisions for anyone out in public.
The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has threatened legal action should quarantined individuals be prevented from voting in the general election.
However, with the continued surge of COVID cases, Dr Nikkiah Forbes warned on Friday that a decision to allow quarantined voters to vote regularly on Election Day would likely increase the transmission of COVID-19.
The decision to allow quarantined voters the ability to vote comes after weeks of uncertainty.
Just last Tuesday, when asked about it, Minister of Health Reward Wells said, “It’s still under discussion, but I can say that health professionals in the Ministry of Health, the ones who make recommendations, are recommending to the government that those persons not, N-O-T, not be allowed to vote.”
However, during the advanced poll, he indicated that quarantined voters would vote on Thursday.
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