Elections in The Bahamas PDF (New)

Elections in the Bahamas
presentation by
The Parliamentary Registration Department
February 22nd 2018
Election Act, Results, Parliamentary Web page,
Facebook, Constituency Maps, etc.
• https://www.elections.gov.bm/constituencies/find-my-
constituency.html
• http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/…/HouseofAssemblyRevisionofBound…
• https://www.facebook.com/ParliamentaryRegistration/
• http://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/20
17/2017-0000/ParliamentaryElectionsActReprint2017_1.pdf
The PLP under the leadership of Prime Minister Perry Christie, were returned
to office with 29 seats and 9 seats for the FNM
In February 2017 following a delimitation exercise, one additional constituency
(St. Barnabas) was added to New Providence, increasing the total number of
constituencies in The Bahamas to 39. Constituency Montagu was renamed Freetown
ELECTION TIME
• ……… When the Five Year Term of the House of Assembly ends
• Prime Minister informs the Speaker of the date for General Elections.
• Speaker informs the Governor General.
• The House of Assembly is Dissolved
• The Provost Marshall (Police Commissioner) reads the Declaration for
General Elections from the steps of the Supreme Court.
• Registration of Voters end.
• Writs of Election are signed and issued by the Governor General for each
Constituency.
• Returning Officers are selected for each Constituency and the writs
are signed by the Returning Officers. Hence, General Elections (39)
• Nomination of Candidates for each Constituency, occurs
14 days after the Writs of election. Each candidate is required to be
nominated by 5 registered voters from the constituency, each must
present a sworn Declaration of Assets and Liabilities including that of
the Spouse and a payment of $400.00 must be made to the treasury
via the Returning Officer.
Voting
The polls open at 8:00am. There are 500 polling stations across the
country. The Parliamentary Elections Act provides for an extension
of time in case of delays. Polling stations are primarily located
within public facilities such as schools, churches and community
centres. A Presiding Officer, supported by an Assistant Presiding
Officer, a floor clerk, a counterfoil clerk, a register clerk, and a
stamp clerk staff each polling station. Unarmed Police Officers,
manage cues and maintain law and order. Party / candidate agents
and international observers were also authorized to be present at
polling stations. There are one to four cardboard voting booths in
each of the polling stations.
The law requires that political campaigning end at 6:00pm the night
before Election Day.
• Voters approach the first polling clerk one by one. The voter must
present their voter’s card, which is verified against the register.
• Voters may vote with any official Government ID, but this can be
problematic if the name is not found on the polling register of that
station. Voters in such circumstances can vote only on a yellow ballot.
• The name and the voter’s number is called out .
• Continuing, the counterfoil of the voter’s card, held by the clerk
verifies the voter’s card, and the counterfoil as well as the voter’s card
is marked and stamped to show that the voter has voted on election
day. The polling register is also marked to show the same.
• The right thumb of the voter is inked to the first joint with elector’s
ink and the voter is issued a voter’s card and given instructions to
vote.
• The voter proceeds to one of the cardboard booths and marks an X
beside the name of the candidate of their choice.
* The voter returns to the presiding officer shows the officer his / her
mark and places the marked ballot into the ballot box.
• The voter collects his / her belongings and immediately leaves the
polling place.
• Party agents may raise an objection but cannot stop a voter from
voting.
• Voting continues without breaks until 6:00pm official closing time.
Closing of the Polling Place
At exactly 6:00pm the last person in line is identified, voting continues
until the last person in line leaves the Polling Station. The Poll closes.
COUNTING THE BALLOTS
• The Electoral Staff, the Police Officer, Party Agents and Mission
Observers count the ballots and the unofficial tally is confirmed and
signed by the Presiding Officer and the result communicated to the
Returning Officer. The Presiding Officer is free to sell signed copies of
the result of the Polling Place to agents and candidates for a
statutory fee of $1.50.
THE RECOUNT OF BALLOTS
Ballots are recounted the following day by all present the previous
night at an agreed location and the count is confirmed and made
official. The completed Form Q is the official record that is signed by
the Returning Officer, the Form R documents the winning candidate
and the name is entered onto the Writ of Election and returned to the
Governor General.
EQUALITY OF VOTES BETWEEN
CANDIDATES
Election Court Cases
The Government takes its seat in the House of Parliament

The Governor General invites the Prime Minister of the party with the largest number of members
of Parliament to form the government.
The speaker is selected and the business of the new parliament commences for a term of five
years after the speech from the throne is read by the Governor General.

Elections in The Bahamas PDF (New)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Elections in The Bahamas PDF (New)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Elections in The Bahamas PDF (New)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Elections in the Bahamas

The Government takes its seat in the House of Parliament

You might also like