The Carter Center, which observed Guyana’s September 1 General and Regional Elections, has praised the country’s democratic process, noting that Guyana has the potential to serve as a worldwide example of democracy that is “rapid, fair, and truly free.”
Speaking at a post-election press briefing at the Pegasus Corporate Suites in Georgetown, Jason Carter, head of the Carter Center mission, commended the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for overseeing a process that he described as peaceful, well-administered, and free of major irregularities.
Carter emphasized that the people of Guyana should take pride in the strength of their democracy. “We did not find any evidence that the voters’ list was manipulated,” he said. “Guyana is positioned to be a global leader in showing how a democracy can evolve rapidly, fairly, and in a genuinely free way. But this will require continued investment in democratic institutions and civil society.”
The Carter Center deployed 50 observers across all 10 electoral districts, monitoring 234 polling stations and all 17 tabulation centers. According to Carter, polling staff, party representatives, and GECOM officials conducted themselves with professionalism. Social media monitoring also reflected a largely positive public perception of election-day operations.
Addressing concerns about delays in tabulating results, Carter acknowledged that the process was “cumbersome but transparent.” He noted that 97% of reports confirmed the tabulation was carried out correctly and in compliance with the law. “It may be slow, but it is transparent. Once completed, people will have confidence in the results,” Carter said.
Looking beyond Election Day, the Carter Center highlighted the importance of reforms to strengthen democratic governance between election cycles. These include constitutional reform to build trust across political parties, stronger campaign finance regulations, and improved public access to information—particularly regarding government contracts and decisions that affect daily life.
With the country’s growing oil wealth attracting international attention, Carter stressed that Guyana’s democratic progress carries global significance. While the nation’s institutions are functioning, he cautioned that deeper investment in civil society and continued reforms are necessary to sustain progress.
One persistent concern remains the credibility of the voters’ list. Although the Carter Center found no evidence of tampering, Carter recommended measures to improve its accuracy, such as efficiently removing the names of deceased persons, including those who pass away overseas. “Adopting international best practices in this area will go a long way toward building public confidence,” he said.
Guyana’s electorate of 757,690 registered voters cast ballots at 2,790 polling stations nationwide in the September 1 elections. Six political parties contested the polls, including the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance for Change (AFC), We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), the Assembly of Liberty and Prosperity, and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM).
Preliminary Statements of Poll published by GECOM indicate that the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is leading in at least eight of the ten administrative regions. The official results, once declared, are projected to return President Irfaan Ali to office for a second term, with the PPP/C heading toward a decisive victory.
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