Elections in Antigua and Barbuda
Encyclopedia
Elections in Antigua and Barbuda
take place in the framework of a parliamentary democracy.
has 17 elected members and two unelected members, the Attorney General and the Speaker. Elections for the House are held every five years, although early elections can take place if Parliamenty is dissolved by the Prime Minister. By-elections must take place within 120 days of a member vacating their seat.
Members are elected via a plurality in single-member constituencies. Voters must be aged 18 or over, be citizens of the country or citizens of a Commonwealth
country who has lived in the country for at least three years prior to a qualifying date, and have been resident in the constituency for at least a month prior to the qualifying date.
Candidates must be at least 21 years old, citizens of the country, and have lived in the country for at least a year prior to the elections. They must also have the ability to speak and (unless blind) be able to read English with "sufficient proficiency". Those with dual citizenship or an undischarged bankruptry are ineligible, as are those who have been imprisoned for more than a year or have committed electoral offences within the previous ten years, or are insane or under a death sentence.
is unelected and consists of 17 members appointed by the Governor-General; eleven on the advice of the Prime Minister, four on the advice of the leader of theopposition, one on the advice of the Barbuda Council and one at the discretion of the Governor-General.
was introduced in 1951, although less than 20% of the population was registered to vote during the 1950s. The first elections
held under this system resulted in a victory for the Antigua Labour Party
, which won all eight seats. The ALP dominated Antiguan politics, winning every seat in elections held in 1956
, 1960
and 1965
. During this period voter turnout
remained low, droppig to just 38% for the 1960 elections. Although they were defeated by the Progressive Labour Movement
in 1971
, the party regained power in 1976
(despite receiving fewer votes than the PLM) and remained the ruling party until 2004 under the leadership of Vere Bird
and later his son, Lester Bird
. During this period elections were considered to be neither free nor fair. After taking over from his father prior to the 1994 elections
, Lester had promised to fight corruption. However, the elections that year remained neither free nor far, with no guarantee of secret balloting, a voter registration open to abuse and the voter roll being inflated by 25% with emigrants or deceased residents. Continued irregularities in the 1999 elections were noted by a Commonwealth
observer group, which recommended the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission and year-round registration for elections. The Commission was set up in 2001 and the ALP's second period of dominance ended with defeat by the United Progressive Party
in the 2004 elections. The UPP won a second term in office in 2009
.
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of two major inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands...
take place in the framework of a parliamentary democracy.
Electoral system
The country's electoral law was passed on 31 October 1975 and was last amended in 2002. Elections are overseen by the Office of the Supervisor of Elections and an Electoral Commission, which was established in 2002. The latter consists of five members appointed by the Governor-General; three (including the chair) on the advice of the Prime Minister and two on the advice of the leader of the opposition.House of Representatives
The House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda
The House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral parliament.The current House of Representatives, formed following elections held on 12 March 2009, has a total of 19 members. 17 members are directly elected to five year terms from single member...
has 17 elected members and two unelected members, the Attorney General and the Speaker. Elections for the House are held every five years, although early elections can take place if Parliamenty is dissolved by the Prime Minister. By-elections must take place within 120 days of a member vacating their seat.
Members are elected via a plurality in single-member constituencies. Voters must be aged 18 or over, be citizens of the country or citizens of a Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
country who has lived in the country for at least three years prior to a qualifying date, and have been resident in the constituency for at least a month prior to the qualifying date.
Candidates must be at least 21 years old, citizens of the country, and have lived in the country for at least a year prior to the elections. They must also have the ability to speak and (unless blind) be able to read English with "sufficient proficiency". Those with dual citizenship or an undischarged bankruptry are ineligible, as are those who have been imprisoned for more than a year or have committed electoral offences within the previous ten years, or are insane or under a death sentence.
Senate
The SenateSenate of Antigua and Barbuda
The Senate is the Upper House of Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda. It consists of 17 members appointed by the Governor General. Ten Members are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, four on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, one on the advice of the Barbuda Council, one resident...
is unelected and consists of 17 members appointed by the Governor-General; eleven on the advice of the Prime Minister, four on the advice of the leader of theopposition, one on the advice of the Barbuda Council and one at the discretion of the Governor-General.
History
Universal suffrageUniversal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
was introduced in 1951, although less than 20% of the population was registered to vote during the 1950s. The first elections
Antigua and Barbuda general election, 1951
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 20 December 1951. The election was the first in Antigua and Barbuda to be held under universal suffrage. Vere Bird formed the Antigua Labour Party in 1951 and led the party to victory, winning all 8 seats on the legislative council. Voter...
held under this system resulted in a victory for the Antigua Labour Party
Antigua Labour Party
The Antigua Labour Party is the former ruling political party in Antigua and Barbuda. It has long been led by Lester Bird, who was chairman of the party since 1971, and became Prime Minister and political leader in 1994. The party was founded by Lester's father, V.C. Bird...
, which won all eight seats. The ALP dominated Antiguan politics, winning every seat in elections held in 1956
Antigua and Barbuda general election, 1956
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 1 November 1956. The Antigua Labour Party retained all 8 seats and the party's leader Vere Bird became Minister of Trade and Production after a ministerial system of government was established. Voter turnout was 57.0%.-Election results:...
, 1960
Antigua and Barbuda general election, 1960
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 29 November 1960. They were won by the governing Antigua Labour Party. ALP leader Vere Bird was re-elected as Chief Minister of Antigua...
and 1965
Antigua and Barbuda general election, 1965
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 29 November 1965, and continued on 15 December after three candidates withdrew before the original date. They were won by the governing Antigua Labour Party. ALP leader Vere Bird was re-elected as Chief Minister of Antigua...
. During this period voter turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
remained low, droppig to just 38% for the 1960 elections. Although they were defeated by the Progressive Labour Movement
Progressive Labour Movement
The Progressive Labour Movement was a major political party in Antigua and Barbuda, and until the 2000s, was the only political party to have defeated the Antigua Labour Party in an election.-History:...
in 1971
Antigua and Barbuda general election, 1971
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 11 February 1971. They were won by the Progressive Labour Movement. PLM leader George Walter was elected Premier of Antigua, defeating the incumbent Premier Vere Bird of the Antigua Labour Party...
, the party regained power in 1976
Antigua and Barbuda general election, 1976
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 18 February 1976. Whilst the Progressive Labour Movement received the most votes, the opposition Antigua Labour Party won more than double the number of seats. ALP leader Vere Bird was elected Premier of Antigua. Bird had previously served as...
(despite receiving fewer votes than the PLM) and remained the ruling party until 2004 under the leadership of Vere Bird
Vere Bird
Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr. was the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. His son, Lester Bryant Bird, succeeded him as Prime Minister. In 1994 he was declared a national hero....
and later his son, Lester Bird
Lester Bird
Lester Bryant Bird was the second Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda from 1994 to 2004 and a well-known athlete. He was chairman of the Antigua Labour Party from 1971 to 1993, then became Prime Minister when his father, Vere Bird, the previous Prime Minister, resigned.Bird was born on February...
. During this period elections were considered to be neither free nor fair. After taking over from his father prior to the 1994 elections
Antigua and Barbuda general election, 1994
General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 8 March 1994. They were won by the governing Antigua Labour Party, under the leadership of Lester Bird. Bird had been appointed leader of the ALP before the election, after his father and predecessor Vere Bird announced his intention to retire....
, Lester had promised to fight corruption. However, the elections that year remained neither free nor far, with no guarantee of secret balloting, a voter registration open to abuse and the voter roll being inflated by 25% with emigrants or deceased residents. Continued irregularities in the 1999 elections were noted by a Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
observer group, which recommended the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission and year-round registration for elections. The Commission was set up in 2001 and the ALP's second period of dominance ended with defeat by the United Progressive Party
United Progressive Party (Antigua and Barbuda)
The United Progressive Party is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda. It is led by Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and has the majority of seats in the Antiguan House of Representatives.-Foundation:...
in the 2004 elections. The UPP won a second term in office in 2009
Antigua and Barbuda general election, 2009
The Antigua and Barbuda general election of 2009 was held on 12 March 2009. The United Progressive Party government was re-elected with a reduced majority...
.
Latest election
External links
- Antigua Elections website
- Antigua and Barbuda Political Database of the Americas