VICTORIA, Seychelles — Representatives from five political parties and one independent candidate are currently in Dubai with members of the Electoral Commission of Seychelles (ECS) to oversee the printing of ballot papers. The five parties being represented are Lalyans Nouvo Sesel (LNS), United Seychelles (US), Seychelles People’s National Movement (SPNM), Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) and Seychelles United Movement (SUM), along with independent candidate Charles de Clarisse. The delegation is accompanying members of the Electoral Commission of Seychelles (ECS) who are supervising the exercise to ensure that the printing process is conducted in a transparent and credible manner. The two other independent candidates, namely Kisna Louise and Ralph Volcère, are not represented in Dubai.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manuella Amesbury explained that the presence of party representatives is crucial at each stage of the process. ‘In the first phase, the representatives verify the ballots to be printed. They check the logos, photos and names through a sample ballot. They must ensure there are no errors before endorsing the process to confirm everything is correct,’ said CEO Amesbury. She further explained that the second phase begins once the ballots have been printed. ‘Representatives must be present when the ballots are packed and secured in the strong room. This is why the representatives return to Seychelles on the same flight as us,’ she added.
‘Today, Monday, September 1, work was intense as we had to go through both Presidential and National Assembly ballots, one by one. The agents endorsed the sample ballots and signed forms confirming verification. They were also able to view the serial numbers that will appear on the booklets containing the ballot papers,’ shared Ms Amesbury. She noted that on Monday, the representatives of political parties and the independent candidate visited the print house where the ballots are being produced. ‘This was our first official meeting with the print house. We toured the different sections of the factory and saw the machine where the papers will be cut. The representatives also discussed the various stages of printing and finalised details regarding the ballot paper,’ said CEO Amesbury. During the meeting, all parties reviewed project timelines, production specifications and quality standards to ensure smooth coordination of the printing process. At the end, the ECS and the print house signed the contract required to begin printing, in the presence of all delegates. As previously announced, there has been a change in the return date of the delegation, which is now set for Monday, September 8, 2025, instead of Friday, September 5, 2025.
