ANEKA THOMPSON Guardian Senior Reporter Aug 17, 2026
CARICOM election observers have urged The Bahamas to implement campaign finance legislation, create an independent electoral management body and strengthen the logistical preparedness and operations of the Parliamentary Registration Department to ensure accuracy of the voters’ register in order to safeguard electoral integrity.
The recommendations, among others, are contained in an August 6 report released by the CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM), which monitored The Bahamas’ general election in May.
In its report, the team noted that ahead of the general election, stakeholders raised concerns about the integrity of the voter register, “citing duplicate registrations, inadequate address verification, and administrative errors”. Stakeholders also had concerns about the potential of foreigners being on the register due to fraudulent documentation, the report said.
“The Parliamentary Registration Department (PRD) faced criticism for limited preparedness, weak communication, and insufficient civic education efforts,” the observers said.
“Stakeholders called for greater independence of the PRD and the Boundaries Commission to avoid perceptions of political bias. Concerns by stakeholders also included campaign financing gaps, limited media impartiality, and youth disengagement from the electoral process.”
The observers said instances of “xenophobic rhetoric regarding the Haitian community” were noted, which could have undermined voter confidence among Bahamians of Haitian descent.
The report outlined nine recommendations the observers said would reinforce The Bahamas’ election system.
Regarding campaign finance reform, the report said legislation requiring disclosure of campaign funding sources, establishing limits on spending, and providing effective penalties for vote buying or misuse of state resources should be put in place to enhance transparency, fairness, and public confidence in the electoral process.
The observers also said the government should strengthen the integrity of the voter registration process by implementing “robust address verification systems and biometric checks to reduce duplicate or fraudulent registrations on the register”.
They also recommended regular audits of the voters’ list to build public trust.
The observers also said the government should transition the PRD into an independent election management body, with adequate legal and operational safeguards against political influence.
The report also recommended the PRD “adopt a year-round operational model” which would include ongoing training for poll workers and early logistical planning.
The report also said officials should reinforce the independence of the Constituencies Commission “to ensure that constituency delimitation is conducted in a fair, transparent, and impartial manner”.
The observers also called for equitable media access for smaller parties and independent candidates; more civic and voter education to reduce “declining” voter turnout; as well as more youth engagement and minority inclusion in the voting process.
It was also recommended that communication be enhanced between the PRD and stakeholders by publishing timely updates on voter lists, polling locations, and procedures, to reduce “confusion” and reinforce confidence in the electoral process.
The observers said they hoped the government, electoral stakeholders, and the Bahamian people would consider the recommendations, which they said are advised with the aim of “further strengthening the integrity and effectiveness of the electoral process, while maintaining the country’s reputation as a stable parliamentary democracy within the Caribbean region”.
International and local observers have long-called on the government to introduce campaign finance legislation, calling it a deficiency in The Bahamas’ electoral system.
Concerns
During their visit, members of the observer mission met with a cross-section of Bahamian society where various issues about the election process were raised. Regarding concerns about the integrity of the voter register, the report noted that during meetings with various stakeholders, allegations were made about “the presence of foreign nationals on the voters’ register connected with the fraudulent acquisition of voter identification cards and passports”.“There were also concerns raised about non-existent or inadequate address verification for new voters, reportedly due to constraints faced by the Parliamentary Registration Department in meeting the election timelines.
“Other concerns included the perceived failure of the Parliamentary Registration Department to meet the statutory deadline for issuance of the voters’ register, as well as purported administrative errors, such as the exclusion of registered individuals from the list, a number reported to potentially be in the thousands, and the assigning of voters to incorrect polling locations,” the report said.
The observers also noted that concern was expressed about the PRD’s readiness ahead of the election, with some stakeholders recommending that the department work year-round to ensure that it is fully able to deliver on its mandate.
“Within this context, stakeholders also highlighted several logistical challenges during advanced polling,” the report noted. “These included reports of long lines and extended waiting times, the concentration of several constituencies into a single polling location, the purportedly illegal extension of the voting hours, and insufficient accommodations for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.”
A recurrent theme among stakeholders was the need to create an independent electoral management body, the report said.
“Acknowledging the current institutional framework, some stakeholders observed that the reporting relationship of the commissioner and staff of the Parliamentary Registration Department to a government ministry may give rise to undue political influence over the department’s decision-making processes, particularly during the electoral period.
“In this context, some stakeholders expressed the view that challenges related to the voters’ register and the conduct of advanced polling were deliberate attempts to influence the election process in favor of the incumbent. Concerns were also raised regarding the attempted movement on May 5, 2026 of ballot boxes from advanced polling day to the Parliamentary Registration Department, without what was perceived as sufficient notice.
“… Additionally, reference was made to perceptions of political alignment and the potential influence of the government in staff recruitment within the department, further reinforcing calls for enhanced institutional independence and transparency,” the report said.
It was also noted that voter turnout for the May 12 general election was 66.4 percent compared to past voter turnout percentages which averaged 88 percent.
“This percentage (66.4 percent) can, therefore, be considered relatively low,” the report noted, adding that decreases in voter turnout appear to be a phenomenon across CARICOM countries and globally.
Team
After an invitation from the Bahamian government, CARICOM deployed a 12-member election observation mission (CEOM), made up of electoral officials from nine member states and three members of staff of the CARICOM Secretariat, to monitor the 2026 general election. The team was led by Herman St. Helen, chief elections officer of Saint Lucia.CARICOM observers were dispatched to voting centers in New Providence and Grand Bahama, covering 317 of 322 polling divisions on both islands.
Most polling stations opened on time, the report noted, with sufficient police presence and election materials.
“Voting was conducted peacefully, with the secrecy of the ballot maintained,” the report said.
While observers saw “minor inconsistencies” in voter identification and ink-checking procedures, the report noted that these incidents did not disrupt the process.
Elaborating on these discrepancies, the report said: “Inconsistencies were recorded in the manner in which election day workers checked for ink on voters’ fingers.
“For instance, it was recorded that in some polling divisions, there were no such checks, while in others, this process was carried out consistently. Additionally, in some instances, the right thumb was dipped in the ink before the elector cast his or her ballot, while in other instances it was done subsequent to voting.”
Regarding ballot secrecy, the report said “extreme care” was taken to preserve this.
“Prior to receiving the ballot paper, the presiding officer issued clear and concise instructions to the elector, informing him/her to mark the ballot for the candidate of his/her choice,” it said.
“Voters were instructed on how to fold the ballot paper to prevent identification of their voting selections. Moreover, to further safeguard the secrecy of the vote, electors were requested to leave all bags, cell phones, hats, and other personal items in baskets at the entrance of each polling division.”
Party agents were present at the polling divisions observed, but the report noted that smaller parties and independent candidates had limited representation at the polls.
“Overall, voters were able to cast their ballots in an orderly manner,” the report noted.
The CARICOM observers said the election process was “peaceful and credible” in spite of logistical challenges and stakeholder concerns and the election results were accepted peacefully.
Source: Nassau Guardian