The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Parliamentary Registration Department reported a significant increase in voter registrations and transfers since the tabling of the Boundaries Commission report in Parliament earlier this month.

Registration Supervisor Carolyn Burrows said the influx has been observed at the department’s headquarters and its satellite stations. While she was unable to provide exact figures, she described the increase as “significant”.

The Boundaries report recommended adjustments to several constituencies and the creation of two new constituencies — St James in western New Providence, and Bimini and the Berry Islands. Political observers are closely watching how the proposed changes could affect the outcome of the upcoming general election.

Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson told reporters during a press conference that officials are still assessing how many voters will be affected by the boundary changes. He noted that several residents in western New Providence, including areas such as Killarney and Golden Isles, now fall within the proposed St James constituency.

Mr Thompson said officials expect to manage voter transfers more efficiently by the end of this week.

The Parliamentary Registration Department is also modernising its registration and verification processes through the use of a geospatial system. The system allows each voter to be identified and linked to a specific physical structure, creating a virtual image of a residence and enabling officials to verify that an address corresponds to an actual building.

Mr Thompson said the system addresses past concerns about individuals registering using vacant lots as their place of residence. He added that scrutineers will also be assigned to inspect homes in various constituencies to ensure that registered voters actually reside at those addresses.

Officials warned that voters who intentionally provide false information during registration could face fines of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to 12 months.

“It’s too early to tell about voter fraud,” Mr Thompson said when asked whether any had been detected so far. “We have our teams working overtime to ensure that we can monitor these situations. We really want a clean and fair election.”

Officials also reminded residents that first-time voters must present a Bahamian passport or birth certificate. Utility bills and lease agreements are no longer required for voter transfers, and police certificates are no longer required for the replacement of lost or stolen voter cards.