ST. CROIX                                  
P.O. Box 1499  
KINGSHILL, St. CROIX 
V100851 - 1499  
PHONE: (340) 773-1021  
FAX (340) 773-4523 
PHYSICAL 
ADDRESS:  
SUNNY ISLE ANNEX  
UNIT 4, 93A 
ST. CROIX VI 00823 
ST. THOMAS  
P.O. Box 6038 
ST. THOMAS, VI 00801  
PHONE (340)774-3107  
FAX: (340) 776-2391 
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:    
9200 LOCKHART GARDEN  
ST. Thomas, VI 00802 
ST.JOHN 
P.O. Box 6038 
ST. T HOMAS VI 00801  
Phone (340)776-6535  
FAX. (340) 776-2391 
 
PHYSICAL 
ADDRESS: THE 
BATTERY ST. JOHN 
IDD TOLL FREE:  
1-877-773-1021  
WEBSITE:  
www.vivote.gov  
EMAIL:  
eilectionsys@  
unitedstates.vi 
  
 
       Board of Elections  
 
 
 
 
TESTIMONY OF RAYMOND J. WILLIAMS 
CHAIRMAN, VIRGIN ISLANDS BOARD OF ELECTION 
January 23, 2026 
Bill Number 36-0187 
 
Good morning, The Honorable Avery Lewis, Chairman of the Committee on Government Operations, 
Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection: members of the Committee and all other senators 
present.  
My name is Raymond J. Williams, Chairman of the Virgin Islands Board of Election. I appear before 
you this morning at your request to present testimony on Bill No. 36–0187, an act amending Title 18 
of the Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 23, Section 622, which would require the Board of Elections to 
count by hand all votes deposited in a ballot box. Proposed by Senator Franklin D. Johnson. 
The Board of Elections met on January 16, 2026, to deliberate on two measures that appear on 
today’s agenda, including the bill presently before this Committee. A motion was made by Board 
Member Michael Joseph and seconded by Board Member Kareem Francis to not support the bill 
proposed by Senator Johnson. The motion carried with a vote of seven (7) in favor, four (4) opposed, 
one (1) abstention, and two (2) members absent. As a result, the official position of the Virgin Islands 
Board of Elections is that we do not support this measure. 
I stand ready to answer questions. Thank you.