Whatever the Weather, Trinidad & Tobago Is Voting · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Rainstorm. Public domain image by Pixabay. Remixed by Global Voices.
Today is election day in Trinidad and Tobago. At around lunch time heavy rainstorms began, causing flooding and raising concerns that the weather could have an adverse effect on voter turnout. Some netizens even wondered whether the weather could be put forward as a valid reason to extend voting hours.
Rain like the proverbial “peas” for #trinidad #elections pic.twitter.com/LNUNREXosD
— Wesley Gibbings (@wgibbings) September 7, 2015
Heavy rainfall in T&T on election day. Photo taken by Achsah Gulston along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway #S6TT pic.twitter.com/sYM5mgjDHf
— CCN TV6 (@tv6tnt) September 7, 2015
Midday rains seemed to have affected the flow of early-afternoon voters in the Couva South constituency.
— Jabari Fraser (@JabariFraser) September 7, 2015
The foul weather contributed to traffic congestion in certain areas of the country, to the point where it was announced that the Priority Bus Route, a roadway usually reserved for public transportation and emergency vehicles, would be open to privately registered cars today:
Lots of cars on the road heading East and Central #traffic #PushForPower @tv6tnt #S6TT pic.twitter.com/tuHkTt9XZC
— Achsah Gulston (@AGulstonTV6) September 7, 2015
Priority Bus Route is open to the public until midnight – @mowigovtt #S6TT
— CCN TV6 (@tv6tnt) September 7, 2015
While some found themselves stranded because of the floods, others were adamant that a little rain was not going to stop them from exercising their franchise:
Fire officers helping people stranded because of the rain/flood. Corner South Quay & Charlotte St. @tv6tnt #s6tt pic.twitter.com/6XgCGrkuvn
— Kejan Haynes (@KejanHaynes) September 7, 2015
Rain or Sunshine my vote will count #elections2015 @tv6tnt pic.twitter.com/EY8YMA4S4k
— Hannah Bee (@MzzzzBee) September 7, 2015
@tv6tnt Voted on a rainy day at polling booth #129. pic.twitter.com/58coptqI3i
— Darren (@Darren_017) September 7, 2015
@tv6tnt so happy I voted today no rain would stop me. pic.twitter.com/zOTlAr13xK
— Lariel-God's lioness (@laurella_s) September 7, 2015
One Twitter user put it all in perspective for anyone who might have been considering staying home because of the weather:
#PushForPower @tv6tnt Protect your franchise. Rain doh keep us from feteing it cah keep us from voting. pic.twitter.com/pxBWdwNJPr
— Marissa Davis (@triniMRD) September 7, 2015
Facebook user Rhoda Bharath put it more plainly:
90 minutes until the polls close.
Do not let the rain win this election.
Get out and vote!
‪#‎BeatOut2015‬
On Facebook, journalist Vernon O'Reilly Ramesar couldn't resist taking a jab at the media's coverage of the situation by posting a photograph of stormy skies with the caption:
And across the nation, reporters smiled at their originality as they scribbled…’ not even heavy rain could dampen the enthusiasm of eager voters.’
Clichéd as it may be, it seemed that the voter turnout was indeed high, bad weather or not:
People reaaaaal voting boy – WHEEEEEEE FOOT pic.twitter.com/l1XoHV9F5Z
— Leslie Ann Boisselle (@trinilab) September 7, 2015
My Instagram feed is filled with ink-stained finger-selfies, meaning it's Election Day in T&T! Here's the low-down: http://t.co/NZPAhBEwG9
— Martine Powers (@martinepowers) September 7, 2015
It has been confirmed that the polls will remain open for an extra hour—until 7 p.m. Trinidad and Tobago time—because of the inconvenience and delays caused by the flooding and traffic.
Due to weather conditions, EBC extends voting to 7 pm in Trinidad only pic.twitter.com/an7TCGRCRj
— CCN TV6 (@tv6tnt) September 7, 2015