Frequently Asked Question

Q.     When can I Register?

A.   Registration as a voter commences during the period 1st July through 31st July, 2003 at the Registration Units in your Constituency, Monday thru Saturday between the hours of 8am to 6pm.

Q.     How many constituencies are there?

A.     There are 17 constituencies.

Q.     Where can I Register?

A.   Registration occurs at 52 locations throughout the 17 constituencies in the state. For specifics about these locations, please check Registration Unit Location.

Q.     How many candidates can win in each constituency?

A.     One candidate can win in each constituency.

Q.     How often is a General Election held?

A.   The Governor General may call a General Election at any time during the life of a Parliament which is five years.

Q.     Do I have to be registered to vote?

A.   All voters must be registered in the constituency in which they live in order to vote. Registration takes place throughout July. If you move to another constituency and have lived there for one or more month(s), then you are eligible for registration and may be registered.

Q.     Why does a voter have to register?

A.   Voters must be registered so that a list of voters can be prepared in advance of an election to determine the numbers of voters, and also to ensure that everyone who comes to vote is eligible.

Q.                      Who can register to vote?

A.                      Persons can register to vote if they are Antiguan and 18 years of age or older, or non-Antiguan Commonwealth citizens who have been resident in Antigua for at least 3 years.

Q.    Do I have to be registered to vote?

A.   All voters must be registered in the constituency in which they live in order to vote. Registration takes place throughout July.

Q.     Who can register to vote?

A.   Persons can register to vote if they are:

1. Citizens of Antigua & Barbuda;

2. Commonwealth Citizens who has resided in Antigua & Barbuda for a period of at least three years immediately before the qualifying date;

3. 18 years of age or older;

Has resided in that constituency for a period of at least one (1) month immediately preceding that qualifying date.

Q.    How may a person be disqualified from Registration?

A.   The law disallows the registration of the following categories of persons: Any person certified to be insane or otherwise adjudged  to be a person of unsound mind under any enactment in force in Antigua and Barbuda.

1.   Any person who is serving any sentence of imprisonment in Antigua and Barbuda.

2.   Any person who is under a sentence of death imposed on him by a court in any part of the Commonwealth or under sentence of imprisonment (by whatever name called) exceeding twelve (12) months imposed on him by such a court or under some sentence substituted therefore by a competent authority and has not suffered the punishment to which he was sentenced or received a free pardon therefore; or Is under any enactment, disqualified for registration as an elector.

Q.    Where do I go to vote on Election Day?

A.   Voters vote in the constituency in which they are registered.  A list of polling stations is published prior to Election Day, in the newspaper and on our website at http://www.antiguaelections.com

Q.     Do I need identification in order to vote?

A.     Yes. Every voter MUST show Identification to vote.

Q.     What is the new Elector Registration System?

A.    The elector Registration System has two main objectives:

1.   To provide information on all eligible electors from which to compile a new voters list.

2.   To lay the groundwork for continuous registration at permanent registration centers.

Objectives of the new Elector Registration System:

The Representation of the People Act has been substantially amended to provide for an initial registration period with the production of a new voters list. The legislation also provides for a Continuous Registration with the production of a preliminary voters list in April and October of each year and a final Voters List to be published twice yearly, June 30 and December 31.

The legislation also permits deletion from the list of the following categories of persons:

1.   Persons who have died since the publication of the

last list.

2.   Persons of whom there is adequate proof that they

have left Antigua and Barbuda for a period of one year preceding the date of the last publication of the register to be no longer ordinarily resident in that Constituency, not being a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.

3.   Persons who have become ordinarily resident in another Constituency.

4.   Persons who have been absent from Antigua and Barbuda for a period of ten years continuously, being a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.

Q.     What is to be collected?

A.   At the basis of the Elector Registration System is the

collection from each elector of the following:

1.   The Elector’s Fingerprints: Rolled Impressions from the

index and middle fingers.

2.   Flat Impressions from all fingers done simultaneously.

3.   Flat Impressions from the thumbs.

4.   The Elector’s Photograph.

5.   The Elector’s Demographic Data.

The fingerprints will be used to identify the elector and prevent multiple registrations, thus ensuring a clean voter list.

Q.     Why Ten (10) Fingerprints?

A.   Each finger on both hands of every person is uniquely different.  No automated system can use a single print to identify the finger from which that print was taken. In registering an elector two sets of fingerprint impression shall be taken – ROLLED Impressions from the middle and index fingers of the hands and FLAT Impressions taken simultaneously from the little, ring, middle and index fingers of both hands. Flat impressions will also be taken from the left and right thumbs. In order to ensure that the individually rolled prints come from the same hand and represent specific finger, they have to be verified against the flat prints taken from that person. This will be followed by a process called CROSSMATCHING OF FINGERPRINTS.

The primary purpose of cross matching fingerprints is to ensure that there is no multiple registrations and to put in place a system which ensures that each registered elector has only ONE opportunity to vote that is, appears on the Voter List ONLY ONCE.

Q.    How does a Scrutineer Validate a prospectus elector?

A.   Only one Scrutineer appointed by each party or independent member is required to be present when registration is being undertaken. The Scrutineers primary obligation is to monitor on behalf of the political representative, the registration proceedings in the registration unit for which he is appointed. Scrutineers are not allowed to intervene in the registration proceedings in any manner, which disrupts the conduct of the registration proceedings.

Scrutineers are required to affix their signatures to the registration record card.

A Scrutineer’s refusal to sign a form does not invalidate the registration proceedings or any other matter relating to the proceedings.

Q.     What are Claims and Objections?

A.   The law requires that the applicant for registration produce his birth certificate or baptismal certificate or certificate of naturalization or passport or driver’s license containing his photograph and such other evidentiary document as may be required by the Registration Officer to authenticate the information in the application. The Registration Officer subject to the directions of the Electoral Commission, is empowered to conduct investigations and hold enquires as he thinks fit to satisfy himself as to the applicant’s eligibility or otherwise to be registered as an elector. For that purpose he may summon witnesses or order the production of any document that he may deem necessary and receive and record any evidence adduced.

Where the Registration Officer is not satisfied with the applicant’s claim to register as an elector, he shall issue to that applicant a NOTICE OF DISALLLOWANCE in the prescribed form.

The Registration Officer is required to record in the Notice of Disallowance his reasons for disallowance. Any person who is aggrieved may appeal within seven (7) days from the date of the Notice of Disallowance.

The statement of appeal should be delivered to the Registration Officer to be heard at the same time as objections made against the registration of electors. The Registration Officer at the time of publishing the list (preliminary) shall publish a notice specifying the manner in which claims and objections in respect

of the elector’s list may be made.

The Registration Officer is further required to maintain a book showing the names, addresses and other particulars of every applicant whose registration has been disallowed by him.

Q.    Who may enter Claims and Objections?

A.   A Claim may be made by a person on his own behalf or by any registered elector in that constituency on his behalf. An Objection shall be in the prescribed form and may be made by any person eligible to apply to be registered for that constituency.

Claims and objections shall be made available for public inspection in the Registration Officer’s Office until completion of the hearing of claims and objections.

Q.   What happens in regards to the disposal of Claims and Objections?

A.   The Registration Officer is required to keep separate lists of claims and objections. If the particulars of a claim or objection is insufficient,  the Registration Officers may ask for further information which the claimant  or objector is required to produce within seven (7) days. If the information is not provided within the time specified the Registration Officer shall dismiss the claim.

The Registration Officer may determine if a claim may be allowed without a hearing. If he so determines, he may allow, provided that no objection is made thereto. He is further required to inform the claimant.

The Registration Officer may determine if an objector is not entitled to object. He may disallow the objection and shall so inform the objector.

The Registration Officer may determine that a claim or objection cannot be allowed because:

The matter has not been concluded by the decision of a court or

The particulars given in a claim or objection do not entitle the claimant or objector to succeed.

The Registration Officer is further required to send to the person making the claim or objection a notice stating his opinion and the grounds upon which he intends to disallow the claim or objection.

If within three days from the date of delivery of the notice, the claimant or the objector does not respond that he wishes to be heard, the Registration Officer may disallow the claim or objection. All hearings shall be held in public after sufficient notification has

been given.

The Registration Officer shall hear and determine all claims and objections and make the necessary alterations to the voters list.

Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Registration Officer may appeal to the Electoral Commission for a determination of the matter.

Any persons aggrieved by a decision of the Electoral Commission may appeal to a Judge of the High Court.