As preparations steam ahead for Guyanese to go vote for a government of their choice before year-end, the Guyana Elections Commission has dispatched thousands more fingerprints overseas to be cross-matched and has begun training Field Managers.

A well-placed GECOM source told Demerara Waves Online News ( www.demwaves.com ) that approximately 16,700 fingerprints captured during the May 9 to June 12 Claims and Objections period.

Results are expected back from the United States-based Cogent Systems during mid-July.

Meanwhile, GECOM’s Secretariat is to dispatch legal advice to the six-member commission on whether it is possible to reopen or have a new Claims and Objections period.

The governing Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) has formally asked the commission whether that would be possible to ensure that an estimated 5,000 persons who were unable to register or have now received their birth certificates can get the voters roll.

The main opposition Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) shares similar concerns but has said that it would do nothing to delay the elections.

And while political parties believe that thousands could be disenfranchised, at least 40,000 national identification cards remain uncollected. Though authorities say the cards are not required to cast ballots, voters often use them to identify themselves at polling stations.

As part of the preparations, GECOM has also announced that training for Field Managers for the general and regional elections has begun. The first session was held on July 2-3, targeting participants from District 4.

GECOM said the objectives of the Training Session are for participants, who would be appointed to manage the electoral process at the decentralized levels, to develop an appreciation and understanding of organizational structure that will be used to facilitate the efficient conduct of the General and Regional Elections 2011, and to acquire knowledge regarding the conduct of the Elections. Accordingly, the participants are being trained to develop strategies to efficiently make the necessary preparations for the conduct of the General and Regional Elections 2011.

In addition to acquainting themselves with the steps involved in casting a ballot, GECOM said the training is aimed at familiarizing the managers with treating different categories of voters. They are also coached about the duties and responsibilities of the management staff throughout the elections process up to the declaration of the results of the elections.