July 21, 2006 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull called the St. Thomas-St. John Board of Elections to open all district polling stations for the September 9, 2006, primary elections.
The governor's statement comes after the board voted on Wednesday to open only one additional polling station, making for a total of six out of a potential 14 stations that will be available for the September primary.
In contrast, the St. Croix Elections Board will open all polling stations on primary elections day on St. Croix.
"I will not quietly sit back and allow the possible disenfranchisement of any person wishing to vote on primary day by this ill-considered decision," Turnbull said. "Too many people have toiled and sacrificed their lives throughout history for the sacred right to vote, for me to allow a decision to reduce polling places, which may have the possible effect of depriving any person of their ability to vote in the primary."
"I call on the St. Thomas-St. John Board of Elections to reverse their decision and I call upon the individual voters as well as other elected leaders of this territory to make their voices heard on this very critical matter.
"It is incredible that individuals elected to facilitate the voting public would put impediments to voter participation," Governor Turnbull concluded.
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