In the wake of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court’s Oct. 24 ruling ordering Alicia “Chucky” Hansen’s name off the November 4 General Election ballot, Elections Supervisor Caroline Fawkes has suspended early voting in the St. Croix District, effective immediately.
A press release issued late Sunday night from the St. Croix Board of Elections revealed Fawkes’ decision on the sixth day of the early voting process on St. Croix. It said Fawkes’ action came as a result of her compliance with the Supreme Court’s Order to remove the embattled senator’s name from the 2014 ballot.
Full text of press release:
On October 24, 2014 the Virgin Islands Supreme Court ruled that Senatorial Candidate (St. Croix District), Alicia “Chucky” Hansen be removed from the 2014 General Election Ballot. Therefore, Supervisor Fawkes in compliance with the Order to remove Hansen from the ballot is suspending Early Voting.
Caroline F. Fawkes, Supervisor of Elections pursuant to her authority under Act 7643 and in compliance with the Court Order issued on October 24, 2014 by Chief Justice Rhys Hodge of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court in Bryan v. Fawkes and the V.I. Joint Board of Elections, Alicia “Chucky” Hansen (Intervenor), S. Ct. Civ. No. 2014-0066 (Re: Super. Ct. Civ. No. 144/2014) ordering that Supervisor Fawkes remove candidate Alicia “Chucky” Hansen’s name from the 2014 General Election ballot has suspended Early Voting in the St. Croix district until further notice. The Board and Office of the Supervisor of Elections’ goal is to conduct a fair, transparent and accessible election.
The VI Consortium spoke with Fawkes on Sunday night via telephone prior to the official announcement and asked what would become of the ballots of those who voted early. She said those voters would not be disenfranchised and that a final decision would be made on how to proceed after a meeting with the Joint Boards of Election, scheduled for Monday morning on St. Croix. She said a decision would also be made on whether to continue early voting in the St. Thomas-St. John District.
For the first time in Virgin Islands history, voters were able to take advantage of early voting, which began on Tues., Oct. 21 and was scheduled through Fri., Oct. 31. The last early voting ballots accepted on St. Croix were cast on Sun., Oct. 26 until 6 p.m.
The VI Consortium will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.
Tags: early voting
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