Board Expects to Register New Voters Before Runoff

Elections Board chair Arturo Watlington, Jr. said Monday night that new voter registration is still on in advance of the Nov. 20 runoff. (File photo)
Elections Board chair Arturo Watlington, Jr. said Monday night that new voter registration is still on in advance of the Nov. 20 runoff. (File photo)

Despite an opinion issued Sunday by Attorney General Claude Walker, Board of Elections members are still expected to begin registering new voters on Tuesday before the Nov. 20 runoff.

Whether the runoff should be seen as a continuation of this month’s general election has been a bone of contention for St. Croix members of the board, who have gone back and forth with the St. Thomas contingent about the logistics of registering new voters before early voting starts later this week.

Walker’s opinion supports the position of the St. Croix board members. “The scheduled runoff election is a continuation of the general election” and the board must not register new voters until five days after the runoff election, Walker said. The letter was addressed to Caroline Fawkes, supervisor, Elections System of the Virgin Islands and to the Election Board.

Walker referred to definitions in the V.I. Code and wrote in his opinion that, “based upon the plain language of the two definitions, it is apparent that the term runoff election is included in the definition of general election. Because a ‘runoff election’ is an election, and it only applies in situations involving a general election, it must follow that a ‘runoff election’ is intended to be a continuation of the general election.”

Speaking with the Source by phone Monday night, Board of Elections Chairman Arturo Watlington said that, St. Croix board member Raymond Williams brought the matter to the attorney general, but opinions must be requested by the full board and not individual members.

Patched in over the call was board member Alecia Wells, who agreed with Watlington and said she would still head to St. John tomorrow to begin registration.

“I will be preparing to do that, too,” Watlington added.

According to both, registration will run from Nov. 13 through 16. Residents who register to vote during this time should be able to vote when early voting kicks off on Nov. 17, and in the runoff election on Nov. 20, they said.