Fawkes Calls V.I.-Only Separate Ballot Rule “Discriminatory,” Urges Delegate to Seek Repeal

Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes says the federal requirement that the V.I. Delegate to Congress race appear on a separate ballot is “discriminatory in today’s day and age,” and is calling on the territory’s Delegate to seek repeal of the provision in Congress. Ms. Fawkes argues that the Virgin Islands is now the only territory still subject to the separate-ballot mandate, after Congress removed similar language for Guam in 1992. While federal and local statutes still refer to a separate ballot for the Delegate race, Ms. Fawkes says modern voting technology, accessibility requirements and tabulation concerns support keeping the contest on one unified ballot with clear visual and structural separation. She recommended that “the delegate…get her colleagues in Congress to repeal this law,” since “we are the only territory to which such applies.” The issue centers on Title 48 of the United States Code, Section 1712, which provides for the election of Delegates to Congress from th...