Barbados
- System of government
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-The British Commonwealth.
- Number of Chambers (Unicameral /
Bicameral) and their tenure
: Bicameral Parliament consisting of the
Senate with 21 seats and the House of Assembly with 30 seats. 5 years.
System of government-References:
- Total population
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-289,680
Total population-References:
- Total area (in square kilo meters)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- 430㎢
Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:
- Number of registered voters
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-235,510(2013 Election for Hose of Assembly)
Number of registered voters-References:
- Number of registered political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-10 parties.
Represented in Parliament.
Barbados Labour Party (BLP)
Democratic Labour Party (DLP)
Others.
People's Empowerment Party (PEP)
Clement Payne Movement (CPM)
Pan-Caribbean Congress (PCP)
Defunct.
Barbados National
Party (BNP)
National Democratic Party (NDP)
People's Political Alliance (PPA)
People's Progressive Movement (PPM)
Worker's Party of Barbados (WPB)
Number of registered political parties-References:
- Number of polling stations
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Average number of voters per polling station
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting age
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-18 years old.
Voting age-References:
- Elected Offices
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-Senate, House.
Elected Offices-References:
- Election system
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- In the Senate 21 members are
appointed by the governor-general. In the House of Assembly 30 members are
elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies.
Election system-References:
- Terms of office
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- 5 years for both chambers.
Terms of office-References:
- Election
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-Elections for House Assembly
Election-References:
- Date
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-Feb, 21, 2013.
Date-References:
- Political parties in the elections
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-Democratic Labor Party
-Barbados Labor Party
Political parties in the elections-References:
- Number of elected candidates
- Last Updated : 2016-09-08 30
Number of elected candidates-References:
- Voter turnout
- Last Updated : 2016-09-08 66%
Voter turnout-References:
- Number of ballots cast
- Last Updated : 2016-09-08 115,204
Number of ballots cast-References:
- Legal framework for elections
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
Legal framework of elections
Ø Barbados
Constitution (1966)
Ø Barbados
Constitution (2002)
Ø Barbados
Representation of the People's Act (2007)
Ø Representation
of the People (General Elections) Allocation of Broadcasting Time
Regulation(1990)
Ø Elections
Offences and Controversies Rules (1959)
Ø Statistics
Act (1985)
Ø Barbados
Referendum Act (2005)
Legal framework for elections-References:
- Legal provisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 N/A
Legal provisions-References:
- Referenda
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 N/A
Referenda-References:
- People’s Initiatives
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 N/A
People’s Initiatives-References:
- Recall Votes
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 N/A
Recall Votes-References:
- Official name
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
-The Barbados electoral and boundaries
commission.
Official name -References:
- Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- Management of the permanent and continuous system of national registration which includes issuing the Barbados Identification Card.
- Undertaking the constitutional and statutory functions of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission in relation to the registration of voters, the conduct of parliamentary elections and the review of constituency boundaries.
-Mission: To maintain accurate registers for the national and electoral registration systems and to ensure the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections.
- The major functions of the
Electoral Department are:
-Vision: To maintain the position of beacon and leader among electoral institutions in the maintenance and management of national and electoral registration systems and the conduct of parliamentary elections.
Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions-References:
- Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)
- Last Updated : 2016-09-08 Independent
Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:
- EMB budget source
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- Technically the final approval falls under the Minister of Finance's responsibility, but officially it is the PM who determines the budget. Once the budget is approved by the Minister the budget must pass Parliament and after that it becomes official.
EMB budget source-References:
- EMB expenditure audit
- Last Updated : 2016-10-24 A national government department
EMB expenditure audit-References:
- Number of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- The Electoral and Boundaries Commission consists of five members and employs thirty members. Registering Officers while the Department has a staff of thirty five employed by the Public Services Commission.
Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Term of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- The members of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission serve for a period of five years and are eligible for re-appointment. However the Chief Electoral Officer is appointed for an unspecified period.
Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Who appoints members (commissioners)?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23 - The prime minister and opposition choose the EMB members.
Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:
- Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
- Last Updated : 2016-12-16 N/A
Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson-References:
- Administrative divisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 divided into eleven parishes
Administrative divisions -References:
- Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- Constituencies are delimited by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission. The Commission submits its report to both Houses of Parliament and once approved by them it is forwarded to the Governor General, who gives final legal effect by making an order for the acceptance of the review of the boundaries.
Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:
- Criteria for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- The provision of the Third Schedule of the Constitution states that 1.The electorate shall, so far as practicable, be equal in all constituencies: Provided that the electorate in any constituency shall, so far as practicable, not exceed 115%, nor be less than 85%, of the total electorate divided by the number of constituencies therein. 2. Natural boundaries such as highways and rivers shall be used wherever possible.
Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:
- Body responsible for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- The Electoral and Boundaries Commission. The Commission consists of a Chairman, a deputy Chairman and three other members. The Chairman and two other members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor-General, acting on the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, by instrument under the Public Seal, and the deputy Chairman and one other member shall be appointed by the Governor-General, acting on the recommendation of the Leader of the Opposition after consultation with the Prime Minister, by instrument under the Public Seal.
Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:
- Requirements on the right to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
Under Section 7 (1) of the Representation of the People Act , a person is qualified to be registered as an elector for a constituency if, on the qualifying date, he/she:
(a) is a citizen of Barbados; or
(b) is a Commonwealth citizen (other than a citizen of Barbados) who has resided in Barbados for a period of at least three years immediately before the qualifying date and
(c) is eighteen (18) years of age or over; and
(d) has resided in that constituency for a period of at least three months before the qualifying date, or, but for the circumstances entitling him to vote at a Mission, would have been resident at the address at which he was ordinarily resident in that constituency immediately before leaving Barbados.
Requirements on the right to vote-References:
- Reasons for having the right to vote revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral Eligibility
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the eligibility revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Requirements for party registration
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
a) Nomination by 4 electors
b) Deposit equivalent to 250 bb$(Barbados dollars), reimbursed if the candidate is elected or obtains more than 1/6 of the total votes cast in the constituency.
Requirements for party registration-References:
- Candidate nomination
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 independent candidates can compete in legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Candidate nomination-References:
- Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 Qualified electors
- age: 21 years
- Barbados citizenship
- residence in the country for more than 7 years
- ineligibility: undischarged bankruptcy, allegiance to a foreign State, imprisonment exceeding 6 months, conviction of felony or of an offence involving dishonesty, electoral fraud
- nomination by 4 electors
Candidate Registration (National Assembly members) -References:
- Candidate registration deposit
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 deposit equivalent to US$ 125, reimbursed if the candidate is elected or obtains more than 1/6 of the total votes cast in the constituency
Candidate registration deposit-References:
- Uncontested Election
- Last Updated : 2016-11-30 N/A
Uncontested Election -References:
- Preparation of the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Who is responsible for the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- The Barbados electoral and boundaries
commission. (EMB)
Who is responsible for the voters list -References:
- Voters list preparation procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Inspection and objection procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Definition
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Prohibited forms of campaigning
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Who is not permitted to campaign
- Campaign Finance
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Campaign expense limit
- Income and expenditure of campaign expense
- Report, public inspection, and open of income and expenditure
- Investigation on income and expenditure of campaign expense & actions
- Reimbursement of campaign expense
- Presiding officers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① How many of officers in a polling station
② Roles of each officer
③ How we nominate the officers
- Facilities or items a polling station is equipped with
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Polling station location criteria
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting hours
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- The poll is opened from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. and no longer; however all persons in line at the polling station at 6:00
p.m. are allowed to cast their votes.Representation
of the People Act, Cap. 12, Second Schedule, Rule 12 (2)
Voting hours-References:
- Voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Is compulsory or voluntary?
② How many ballot papers are distributed to each voter?
- Ballot Paper
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Determination of the order of candidates on ballots
② What has to be included in the ballot paper?
③ Ballot paper design or sample ballot paper
④ Valid and invalid ballot paper
- Voting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- The vote at the poll is given by ballot.
The Presiding Officer gives the voter a ballot paper and the voter on receiving
the ballot paper, shall forthwith proceed into one of the compartments in the
polling station and there secretly mark his paper and fold it so as to conceal
his vote, and shall then show to the Presiding Officer the back of the paper so
as to disclose the official mark, and put the ballot paper so folded into the
ballot box in the presence of the Presiding Officer.
Voting Procedures -References:
- Marking method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Who are subjected to do
② Voting procedures
- Counting Location
- Last Updated : 2016-08-19 Special Counting Centres
Counting Location-References:
- Counting period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Vote counting method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-08-19
Preliminary count of all ballots in ballot box - Tally of voters who voted - Number of ballots in box reconciled against number of voters - Number of ballots reconciled against ballots initially received (minus spoilt and unused)
Counting Procedures-References:
- When are ballots recounted?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-19
By request
When are ballots recounted?-References:
- Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?
- Last Updated : 2016-10-24 Diplomatic staff
Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?-References:
- Overseas voters list preparation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Where to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting procedure for early voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods used to transport ballot papers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- How is the elected candidate chosen in the case of a tie?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Apportioning of National Assembly seats
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Results Announcement
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Is the announcement of preliminary result required?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Deadline for announcement of final results
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reason for holding a by- or re-election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- By-election dates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral process
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 N/A
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:
- Television debates
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 N/A
Television debates-References:
- Blackout period for release of election survey results
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 N/A
Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution body
- Last Updated : 2016-11-17 Specially Appointed/Elected Electoral Tribunal
Electoral dispute resolution body-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08
Petitions
8. Form of petition.
Every petition shall be addressed “To the Supreme Court of Barbados “. It shall be in the formset out in Appendix B to these rules with such variations as the particular circumstances may require.
APPENDIX B FORM1
Petition in Respect of a General Assembly Election
The petition of (here name or names and address or addresses)
She weth as follows-
1. Your petitioner is a person who voted (or had a right to vote, as the case may be) at the above election (or claims to have a right to be elected or returned at the above election) or was a candidate at the above election.
2. Your petitioner states that the election was held on the day of 19 when (name of candidate or candidates) were candidates and the returning officer has returned X as duly elected.
3. Your petitioner states that (here set out the facts and grounds on which petitioner relies).
Wherefore your petitioner prays that it might be determined (here state relief prayed for).
Dated this day of 19 .
Petitioner.
The address forservice for the petitioner is
The attorney-at-law for the petitioner is serviceis
whose addressfor
Where there is more than one petitioner the plural is to be used.
Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-12-16 N/A
Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Direct public funding
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- If so, eligibility criteria for direct public funding
: Funding is only available to political parties with parliamentary representation. However, under the Parliament (Administration) Act 1989 (CAP. 10), parliament provides an annual subvention of BD$ 300,000 (US$148515), which is shared among the political parties that have a parliamentary presence. In addition, each constituency is entitled to an office and a stipend of BD$ 750 (US$370).
Direct public funding-References:
- Private funding of political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-10-26
No
Private funding of political parties-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies
- Last Updated : 2016-10-26 The Management Commission of Parliament
Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies-References:
- Which electoral processes are using ICTs?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voter registration and identification
- E-voting
- Processing of results
- Election administration
- When it was introduced
- Last Updated : 2016-12-16 N/A
When it was introduced-References:
- Gender equality
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08
Female Population: 147,052 (2013)
· Is Barbados a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (24 July 1980)
· Has Barbados ratified CEDAW: Yes (16 October 1980)
· Gender Quota: No
· Female candidates in this election: Yes
· Number of Female Parliamentarians: 5 (following 2013 elections)
· Human Development Index Position: 57 (2014)
· Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A
Gender equality-References:
- Aids for disabled or handicapped voters
- Last Updated : 2016-08-23
- Blind and incapacitated persons are allowed to vote, if neccessary, with the assistance of an accompanying person. The voter makes an application to the Presiding Officer to be allowed on the grounds of blindness or other physical cause to vote with the assistance of a companion. The Presiding Officer requires the voter to declare orally that he/she is so incapacitated that he/she is unable to vote without assistance. Once the Presiding Officer is satisfied, the companion makes a written declaration that he/she has not assisted more than one blind or incapacitated person to vote. The voter is given the ballot paper and proceeds to vote. Representation of the People Act Cap. 12, Second Schedule, Rule 31(1), (2) and (3).
Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:
- Voter education
- Last Updated : 2016-08-19 Continuously
Voter education-References:
- National civic education
- Last Updated : 2016-08-19 No
National civic education-References:
- EMB Staff education
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08
N/A
EMB Staff education-References:
- Domestic observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Partnerships/MoUs
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International Activities
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Major challenges to elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Measures taken to deal with those Challenges
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03