Parliamentary Commissioner Errol Bethel said yesterday the distribution of voter's cards got off to a smooth start and he assured that the department was on high alert in an effort to prevent foreigners from registering to vote in the upcoming general election.
The distribution of voter's cards is taking place at Kendal G. L. Isaacs Gymnasium.  According to Bethel, nearly 100,000 cards are available for collection at that site.
The 2012 election will be the biggest test of the Parliamentary Registration Department since it received scathing criticisms from Election Court justices, who pointed to egregious failures in the process in the lead-up to the 2007 general election, and due to failures connected to the 2010 by-election in Elizabeth.
Such concerns about the process persist.
Just last week, The Nassau Guardian reported that an illegal immigrant who registered to vote in The Bahamas and fraudulently obtained a passport has been jailed for eight months.
Jamaican Andre Kumar Ebanks, 24, admitted to getting a Bahamian passport and voter's card by using a forged school record letter and a Bahamian birth certificate.
Bethel pointed out yesterday that people cannot register with old voter's cards.
"We have been going through this whole issue of who is a citizen and who is not a citizen and just in case some people slipped through last time, we want to make sure it doesn't happen again," Bethel said.
"Having a birth certificate does not prove citizenship.  We have to also know that your parents are citizens.
"Now if you have a passport we can accept that document because that would have meant that you should have gone through the Passport Office and they would have gone through all of your information in terms of who you are."
Some people who collected their voter's cards yesterday expressed excitement over the approaching election.
George Major, who is registered in Nassau Village, said he's most concerned about immigration and unemployment.
Joyce Conliffe, who lives in Bamboo Town, said if the election was called today, she would be ready.
"I know where my 'X' is going; it hasn't changed then and it isn't changing now. I'm ready to vote for the right party because the right person will get the job done," Conliffe said.
Voter's cards can be picked up at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

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