Elections Supervisor Caroline Fawkes Sunday night suspended early voting on St. Croix, which began Tuesday, following the V.I. Supreme Court order Friday that Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen be removed from the ballot.
The decision to suspend early voting was announced in a news release Sunday night.
Fawkes said she took the action "pursuant to her authority under Act 7643 and in compliance with the Court Order … ordering that Supervisor Fawkes remove candidate Alicia “Chucky” Hansen’s name from the 2014 General Election ballot."
The news release refers only to early voting on St. Croix, suggesting St. Thomas and St. John early voting are unaffected. It says that early voti9ng on St. Croix has been suspended "until further notice," suggesting it could be resumed. It also makes no mention of what would be done with ballots already cast.
Earlier Sunday the Elections Office announced there would be a n emergency meeting of the V.I. Joint Board of Elections at 10 a.m. Monday at Gertrude’s Restaurant on St. Croix. (The meeting agenda can be seen here.)
The court’s decision (See related link, below) ordering Hansen’s name removed from the ballot is the latest in a long series of court action over the senator’s candidacy. Hansen’s name has been ordered on and off the ballot repeatedly seesaw battle with St. Croix Elections Board Chairman Adelbert Bryan.