Bahamians vote for new government on May 12

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC - Bahamians go to the polls on May 12 to elect a new government, with Prime Minister Philip Davis saying that Parliament will be dissolved on April 8 and that the writs for the elections, issued five months ahead of the constitutional deadline, will be issued on April 9.

Davis said that the voter registry will close on April 8, encouraging electors to ensure that they are properly registered to cast a ballot in the election.

“I also wish to remind the public that if you currently hold a valid purple voter’s card, your registration remains valid, and there is no need to register again. The law provides that if you are on the current register of voters, you are entitled to vote.

“If you are registering for the first time, if you have moved and need to transfer, or if you need to verify your information, I encourage you to do so without delay.”

In a statement posted on the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) Facebook page, Opposition Leader, Michael Pintard, said that both the party and the general population are “ready for this moment.

“For nearly five years, this government was given every advantage: a strong economy recovering from the pandemic, more than a billion dollars in new revenue every year, and a clear mandate from the Bahamian people.

“They squandered it. They served themselves, friends, insiders, and a select group of companies while working families and many businesses fell further behind,” Pintard said.

Davis said that “under the Parliamentary Elections Act, the register of voters for the general election closes at the end of Wednesday, 8 April 2026. With Writs of Election being issued on 9 April 2026, the statutory cut-off for registration and transfers is the end of Wednesday, 8 April 2026.”

The Parliamentary Registration Department said it has suspended voter verification services ahead of the general election, as a surge in activity following the prorogue of Parliament.

Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson said verification, required only for those seeking a biometric voter’s card, will be paused until after the election, with resources redirected to processing new registrations and transfers.

The move by the Parliamentary Registration Department comes days after voters reported hours-long waits at registration sites, with some leaving without being processed as demand spiked following the Prime Minister's call for Bahamians to get registered.

In his statement announcing the date for the election, Davis called for a respectful campaign, stressing national unity beyond political divisions.

“As we move through this election season, I ask every Bahamian to remember one simple truth: wherever we may fall politically, we all love this country.

“Long after the campaign is over, we will still be one people, sharing one home, with one future to build together. I encourage every eligible Bahamian to take part in this process with seriousness, respect, and faith in our democracy,” Davis added.

In the September 16, 2021, general elections, Davis led the then-opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to a convincing victory over the then ruling FNM, winning 32 of the 39 seats in the Parliament.

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