Elections in Barbados
Encyclopedia
Elections in Barbados is the process of conducting general elections and formulating election results in Barbados
. An election
is a process in which a vote is held to democratically elect national candidates to an office. In the case of Barbados, it is the mechanism by which the electors choose members to fill elective offices in the House of Assembly
. Elections are held on Election Day
. These general elections do not have fixed dates, but must be called within five years of the opening of parliament following the last election. Earlier elections can occur in certain situations. Having been a British colony, the elections system is fashioned after the British system with Barbados using the single member plurality system (a.k.a First Past the Post).
Barbadian election rules are bound by certain parts of the local Constitution, various other separate legislation, and other regulations or administrative rules, or Regulations made by the Commission.
The politics in recent years are two-party, dominated by the centre-left Barbados Labour Party
and the social-democratic Democratic Labour Party
. Presently, it is difficult for other parties to achieve electoral success.
, and has five members/commissioner
s, who are chosen based solely on expertise. These members are chosen by both the prime minister and opposition, and can serve for a term of 5 years.
thus requiring an election be held.
Shortly before Election Day, a card will be mailed to Constituents indicating the location of their polling station. To take part during Elections Day, the electorate visits their specified polling station where they are registered for the national elections. At the polling station, eligible voter must present their National ID card to be given a single paper ballot. To cast a vote, the elector must manually mark their ballot. They do so by placing a cross ("X") next to the candidate they want to represent them. (Any other mark or comment on the paper renders it an invalid ballot.) Upon completion, the anonymous ballot is then placed into a sealed ballot box for later counting.
Voting outside the country by the general public is not allowed at Barbados' various High Commissions, Embassies, and Consulates. However, diplomatic staff may voteRepresentation of the People's Act, "A person is qualified to be treated as a foreign service elector at any election in any constituency who is (a)serving abroad as the Head of a Mission or a member of the Staff of a Mission; (b)a member of the household of a person mentioned in paragraph (a)"
Under the present system, the electors do not vote directly for a Prime Minister. Instead, electors vote on the running candidates in their constituency to choose whom they want to represent them in the House of Assembly. All other positions in the government are inherited, nominative or directly appointed.
In order to become a candidate, there is a signature requirement which requires for nomination by at least 4 electors. Further, the potential candidate must also meet the deposit requirement of equivalent to BBD$250 (Barbados dollars), reimbursed if the candidate is elected or obtains more than 1/6 of the total votes cast in the constituency.
Politics of Barbados
The politics of Barbados function within a framework of constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions; constitutional safeguards for nationals of Barbados include: freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association.Executive power is vested in...
. An election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
is a process in which a vote is held to democratically elect national candidates to an office. In the case of Barbados, it is the mechanism by which the electors choose members to fill elective offices in the House of Assembly
Barbados House of Assembly
The House of Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. It has 30 Members of Parliament , MPs are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority system for a term of five years....
. Elections are held on Election Day
Election Day (politics)
Election Day refers to the day when general elections are held. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate, while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday...
. These general elections do not have fixed dates, but must be called within five years of the opening of parliament following the last election. Earlier elections can occur in certain situations. Having been a British colony, the elections system is fashioned after the British system with Barbados using the single member plurality system (a.k.a First Past the Post).
Barbadian election rules are bound by certain parts of the local Constitution, various other separate legislation, and other regulations or administrative rules, or Regulations made by the Commission.
The politics in recent years are two-party, dominated by the centre-left Barbados Labour Party
Barbados Labour Party
The Barbados Labour Party is the main opposition party of Barbados. Led by Rt. Hon.Owen Arthur, the BLP holds 9 out of 30 seats in the House of Assembly as of January 2008...
and the social-democratic Democratic Labour Party
Democratic Labour Party (Barbados)
The Democratic Labour Party is a political party in Barbados, and currently the ruling party of the country. It is led by Freundel Stuart.-History:...
. Presently, it is difficult for other parties to achieve electoral success.
Authority
Elections in Barbados are the responsibility of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (E&BC) The E&BC is an independent body under the Prime Minister's Office (in his or her capacity as Minister of Finance.)http://www.barbados.gov.bb/portfoli_pm.htm, which is responsible for the E&BC's actual financial administration. The E&BC is headed by the Chief Electoral OfficerChief Electoral Officer
The Chief Electoral Officer is the person responsible for overseeing elections in some commonwealth countries and provinces.Specifically, it may refer to:* Chief Electoral Officer * Chief Electoral Officer...
, and has five members/commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
s, who are chosen based solely on expertise. These members are chosen by both the prime minister and opposition, and can serve for a term of 5 years.
Voting eligibility
Voting in Barbados by law is voluntary, with registration for elections undertaken by the Election Management Body (EMB). The requirements for voter eligibility are the following :- A citizen of BarbadosBarbados nationality lawThe Barbadian nationality law is governed by the Law on Citizenship of Barbados , and by the Barbadian Constitution.- Definition of Barbadian citizenship :* By birth:...
, who is 18 years of age or older, and has resided in an electoral constituency for at least three months prior to the Qualifying Date. - A Commonwealth citizenCommonwealth citizenA Commonwealth citizen, which replaces the former category of British subject, is generally a person who is a national of any country within the Commonwealth of Nations....
, 18 years of age or older, who has resided legally in Barbados for a period of at least three consecutive years and has resided in an electoral constituency for a least three months prior to the Qualifying Date. - A Non-Commonwealth Citizen, who is 18 years of age or older, who has resided legally in Barbados for a period of at least seven years and has resided in an electoral constituency for a least three months prior to the Qualifying Date.
Polling
For an election to take place the Governor-General must formally issue a writWrit
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
thus requiring an election be held.
Shortly before Election Day, a card will be mailed to Constituents indicating the location of their polling station. To take part during Elections Day, the electorate visits their specified polling station where they are registered for the national elections. At the polling station, eligible voter must present their National ID card to be given a single paper ballot. To cast a vote, the elector must manually mark their ballot. They do so by placing a cross ("X") next to the candidate they want to represent them. (Any other mark or comment on the paper renders it an invalid ballot.) Upon completion, the anonymous ballot is then placed into a sealed ballot box for later counting.
Voting outside the country by the general public is not allowed at Barbados' various High Commissions, Embassies, and Consulates. However, diplomatic staff may voteRepresentation of the People's Act, "A person is qualified to be treated as a foreign service elector at any election in any constituency who is (a)serving abroad as the Head of a Mission or a member of the Staff of a Mission; (b)a member of the household of a person mentioned in paragraph (a)"
Counting
Ballot counting is undertaken at special counting centres. The ballot boxes are collected from each polling station in the constituency and taken to the counting centre. There, the seals are checked before the boxes are opened and the votes for each candidate are counted. When the counting finishes, the results of voting in that constituency are announced by the returning officer, who declares the winner of the election.Candidates
Local government was dissolved between 1967 and 1969 when an Interim Commissioner for Local Government was set up to transfer all duties to the national government. This left solely the national government.Under the present system, the electors do not vote directly for a Prime Minister. Instead, electors vote on the running candidates in their constituency to choose whom they want to represent them in the House of Assembly. All other positions in the government are inherited, nominative or directly appointed.
Government
- Head of StateMonarchy of BarbadosThe monarchy of Barbados is a constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Barbados, forming the core of the country's Westminster style parliamentary democracy...
(Queen Elizabeth II) - Not elected - The Monarchy is chosen by hereditary.- Governor General of Barbados (Elliot BelgraveElliot BelgraveElliot Belgrave is a Barbadian politician who serves as the Acting Governor-General of Barbados since 1 November 2011.- References :...
) - Not elected - Is appointed by The Monarch (Head of State).
- Governor General of Barbados (Elliot Belgrave
- Head of GovernmentPrime Minister of BarbadosThe Prime Minister of Barbados is a very influential position as head of government of Barbados. According to Barbados Constitution, the Prime Minister must always be a member of Parliament, and is appointed by the Governor-General who is responsible for conducting parliamentary elections, and for...
- According to the Constitution: "The Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General. The Governor-General appoints as Prime Minister the member of the House of Assembly who, in his judgement, is best able to command the confidence of a majority of the members of that House of Assembly." - The Parliament of BarbadosParliament of BarbadosThe Parliament of Barbados is the national legislature of Barbados. It is accorded legislative supremacy by Chapter V of the Constitution of Barbados. The Parliament is bicameral in composition and is formally made up of: HM Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados The Parliament of Barbados is the...
has two chambersBicameralismIn the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
:- The House of AssemblyBarbados House of AssemblyThe House of Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. It has 30 Members of Parliament , MPs are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority system for a term of five years....
has 30 members, electedElectionAn election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies. - The SenateSenate of BarbadosThe Senate is the name given to the Upper House of the bicameral legislature the Parliament of Barbados. The Senate is accorded legitimacy by Chapter V of the Constitution of Barbados. It is the smaller of both chambers and also includes HM Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados...
has 21 appointed members: Of which, 7 are chosen by the Governor General, 12 by the Prime Minister and 2 by the Leader of the Opposition.
- The House of Assembly
Requirements
The eligibility requirements of contesting in the elections are the following :- A citizen of BarbadosBarbados nationality lawThe Barbadian nationality law is governed by the Law on Citizenship of Barbados , and by the Barbadian Constitution.- Definition of Barbadian citizenship :* By birth:...
, who is 21 years of age or older, and who has resided in Barbados for a period of at least seven years prior to the Qualifying Date. - A Commonwealth citizenCommonwealth citizenA Commonwealth citizen, which replaces the former category of British subject, is generally a person who is a national of any country within the Commonwealth of Nations....
, 21 years of age or older, who has resided legally in Barbados for a period of at least seven years prior to the Qualifying Date. "Subject to the provisions of section 44, any person who - a. is a Commonwealth citizen of the age of twenty one years or upwards; and b. has such connection with Barbados by residence therein as may be prescribed by Parliament, shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Assembly."
In order to become a candidate, there is a signature requirement which requires for nomination by at least 4 electors. Further, the potential candidate must also meet the deposit requirement of equivalent to BBD$250 (Barbados dollars), reimbursed if the candidate is elected or obtains more than 1/6 of the total votes cast in the constituency.