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After Virgin Islands Superior Court Judge Harold W. L. Willocks ruled on Monday to halt the recount of votes cast in the Nov. 4 General Election until provisions were made to accommodate residents who wished to view the recount process, Board of Elections Vice-Chairwoman Lilliana Belardo de O’Neal will resume recounting of the ballots today at the Elections System office on St. Croix beginning at 9 a.m.

In compliance with the court’s order, Belardo de O’Neal will use two rooms to conduct the recount: both the elections office conference and training rooms. Both will be equipped with cameras that will be used to broadcast the counting in real time to a tent outside the building, where a television will be placed to facilitate public viewing.

The move comes after the St. Croix District Board of Elections, on Dec. 4, voted to ban the public, including media outlets, from observing the recount process as it took place. Days after, Judge Willocks suspended the recount, forcing Belardo de O’Neal to institute the new measures for public viewing.

Board Chairman Adelbert Bryan, who has been against the recount, also objected to the procedures that certain board members voted to allow, like giving a non-bubbled write-in vote to a candidate. In a board meeting on Dec. 3, Bryan vehemently objected to the idea that a write-in vote without a bubble should be counted, referencing the instructions outlined on the ballot, which reads:

“INSTRUCTIONS: Read instructions carefully before marking your ballot. You may vote on both sides. The only way to mark your ballot for your votes to be counted is to completely fill in the oval next to the candidates of your choice(s). Make NO other mark(s) on your ballot, if you do, your vote(s) will not be counted.

“Write In: To vote for a person not on the ballot for an office, write the name on the line provided and COMPLETELY fill in the oval to the left of that name.”

Said Bryan, “A none-bubble vote is not a vote.”

Meanwhile, a court case brought up by Sen. Nereida “Nellie” Rivera-O’Reilly challenging the authority for a candidate, who was not on the General Election ballot, to call for a recount, will be heard at the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on Dec. 15 at 9 a.m.

Image Credit: Cuyahoga Election Audits

Tags: recount

Ernice Gilbert
I wear many hats, I suppose, but the one which fits me best would be journalism, second to that would be radio personality, thirdly singer/songwriter and down the line. I've been the Editor-In-Chief at my videogames website, Gamesthirst, for over 5 years, writing over 7,000 articles and more than 2 million words. I'm also very passionate about where I live, the United States Virgin Islands, and I'm intent on making it a better place by being resourceful and keeping our leaders honest. VI Consortium was birthed out of said desire, hopefully my efforts bear fruit. Reach me at [email protected].