Express voting machines that will be used at polling places on Tuesday, Nov. 3 for the General Election. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT FOR VI CONSORTIUM
During the 2020 Democratic Primary Election in August, a major complaint that arose was the protracted wait on election night for final results. The V.I. Territorial Board of Elections has addressed that matter during a meeting ahead of Tuesday's election by allowing results to be made public as soon as they come in.
Also addressed was a way to provide real-time election ballot-counting to residents in the Covid-19 era. To that end, the Election System has entered into an agreement with WTJX to carry ballot-counting live. the Elections System will also carry the stream on its website. Live stream coverage will start at 7:00 p.m., the Election System said.
Also to be live-streamed will be the counting of absentee ballots on November 4, 7, and 14.
Access to Elections System Offices will be limited to Elections board members, staff, and other pre-authorized individuals, the Election System said in a release. These precautions are in placed to prohibit the spread of COVID-19. Elections Supervisor Caroline Fawkes encouraged all citizens to adhere to the established protocols from the Department of Health.
The Consortium will be providing written coverage on election night and will provide results as soon as they come available.
Relative to the live-streaming of the ballot count, the process won't be carried live simultaneously, meaning one district will be carried first and the other, after, according to Ms. Fawkes.
For questions or concerns, contact the Supervisor of Elections at (340) 773-1021, St. Croix District, or (340) 774-3107, St. Thomas-St. John District, for any additional information.
