WASHINGTON, CMC – The Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organisation of American States (OAS) has made several preliminary findings and recommendations for electoral reform in Antigua and Barbuda in the aftermath of Wednesday’s general election.
The EOM, which was led by the former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding, comprised 11 experts and observers from seven countries, two of whom worked remotely.
On Election Day, the OAS said the team visited the 17 constituencies of Antigua and Barbuda, observing the process from the opening of polling stations, through to the tabulation of ballots and the transmission of results.
The final results gave the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, nine seats in Antigua; with the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) winning six seats; independent candidate Ascot Michael, a former ABLP minister, winning one seat; and the Barbuda People´s Movement (BPM) maintaining the single seat in Barbuda.
The EOM recommendations include electoral organisation, delimitation of boundaries, electoral technology, electoral justice, political finance and political participation of women.
The mission, however, said it was “pleased to note” the following actions taken by the Electoral Commission to implement OAS/EOM recommendations presented in 2014: The establishment of a continuous voter registration process; and the development and implementation of an updated, user‐friendly website with ample information about the Commission’s structure and functions, current and previous electoral processes, registration and voting requirements.
The OAS Mission said the updating procedures of the Register of Electors for deceased persons remains “ad hoc in the sense that there are no official procedures established in the current electoral law to facilitate the regularised receipt of pertinent information from other entities as needed.”
In its engagements in the pre‐electoral period, the EOM said it took note of concerns expressed by stakeholders regarding the timing of the publication of the Register of Elections.
The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2010 specifies that the final Register of Elections should be published no later than 14 days after the Writs of Election have been issued.
In the run-up to these elections, the EOM said questions arose as to the correct timing of the publication of the final Register due to varying interpretations of how the 14 days should be counted.
Following indications from the Electoral Commission that the final Register of Elections would be published on January 13, 2023, the EOM said the UPP, in an open letter, addressed to the Supervisor of Elections, contended that the Commission’s calculation, was incorrect and that the Register should have been published on January 9, 2023.
In order to ensure women’s equal representation in decision‐making positions, the OAS Mission recommended, as noted by missions in 2018 and in 2014, that the government, the electoral authority, political parties, and civil society organisations, among other actors, work to develop training, mentoring programmes, and other initiatives to promote women’s participation and leadership in politics.
In addition, the EOM recommended the development of “appropriate mechanisms” to respond to violence and harassment against women candidates, including online abuse.