Elections in the Bahamas
Encyclopedia
Elections in the Bahamas
take place in the framework of a parliamentary democracy. Since independence voter turnout has been generally high in national elections, with a low of 87.9% in 1987 and a high of 98.5% in 1997.
The country has a bicameral
Bahamas
with a House of Assembly and Senate.
Voters must be aged 18 or over, hold Bahamian citizenship and lived for three months in the constituency. They can disqualified if insane, imprisoned or under a death sentence. Until 1972 British
citizens could also vote if they had been resident for six months.
Candidates must be at least 21 years old, citizens of the country, and have lived in the country for at least a year prior to the elections. Those with dual citizenship or an undischarged bankruptry are ineligible, as are those who have a criminal conviction, a history of electoral fraud, or are insane or under a death sentence.
, it asked voters five questions ranging from changes to the constitution to the setting up of a national commission on teaching.
in 1967, elections in the Bahamas were dominated by the white oligarchy known as the Bay Street Boys. They were represented by the United Bahamian Party
, which by gerrymandering
the constituency boundaries, won the 1962 elections
despite receiving fewer votes than the black Progressive Liberal Party
. In the next elections in 1967
the UBP received more votes than the PLP, but they won the same number of seats. With the support of the sole Labour Party
MP the PLP was able to form the country's first black-led government.
The PLP dominated national politics until the 1990s, winning every election until 1992
when they were defeated by the Free National Movement
(which the UBP had formed by a merger in 1971). The FNM won the next elections in 1997
in which voter turnout hit a record 98.5%, but power was ceded back to the PLP in 2002
. The FNM returned to power again in 2007
.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
take place in the framework of a parliamentary democracy. Since independence voter turnout has been generally high in national elections, with a low of 87.9% in 1987 and a high of 98.5% in 1997.
Electoral system
The country's electoral law was passed on 31 December 1969 and was last amended in 1992. Elections are run by the Parliamentary Registration Department, headed by a Parliamentary Commissioner. Appointed by the Governor-General, the Commissioner is responsible for voter registration. There is also an Electoral Broadcasting Council, which is responsible for ensuring that media reports are fair and not biased towards any party.The country has a bicameral
Bicameralism
In 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....
Bahamas
Parliament of the Bahamas
The Parliament of The Bahamas is the bicameral national parliament of Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The parliament is formally made up by the Queen , an appointed Senate, and an elected House of Assembly...
with a House of Assembly and Senate.
House of Assembly
The House of Assembly has 41 elected members who are elected in single-member constituencies. Elections for the House are held every five years.Voters must be aged 18 or over, hold Bahamian citizenship and lived for three months in the constituency. They can disqualified if insane, imprisoned or under a death sentence. Until 1972 British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
citizens could also vote if they had been resident for six months.
Candidates must be at least 21 years old, citizens of the country, and have lived in the country for at least a year prior to the elections. Those with dual citizenship or an undischarged bankruptry are ineligible, as are those who have a criminal conviction, a history of electoral fraud, or are insane or under a death sentence.
Senate
The Senate is unelected and consists of 16 members appointed by the Governor-General; nine on the advice of the Prime Minister, four on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and three on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultations with the leader of the opposition.Referendums
There has only been a single national referendum in the nation's history. Held in 2002Bahamian referendum, 2002
A multiple referendum with five questions was held in the Bahamas on 27 February 2002. Voters were asked whether they approved of:#the removal of gender discrimination from the constitution...
, it asked voters five questions ranging from changes to the constitution to the setting up of a national commission on teaching.
History
Prior to the introduction of universal suffrageUniversal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
in 1967, elections in the Bahamas were dominated by the white oligarchy known as the Bay Street Boys. They were represented by the United Bahamian Party
United Bahamian Party
The United Bahamian Party was a major political party in the Bahamas in the 1950s and 1960s. Representing the interests of the white oligarchy known as the Bay Street Boys, it was the ruling party between 1958 and 1967...
, which by gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
the constituency boundaries, won the 1962 elections
Bahamian general election, 1962
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 2 May 1962, the first under universal suffrage. Whilst the Progressive Liberal Party won the most votes, the United Bahamian Party won the most seats, largely as a result of gerrymandering.-Results:...
despite receiving fewer votes than the black Progressive Liberal Party
Progressive Liberal Party
The Progressive Liberal Party is a populist party in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas commonly abbreviated PLP. The PLP lies on the left of the political spectrum....
. In the next elections in 1967
Bahamian general election, 1967
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 10 January 1967. The result was a tie between the Progressive Liberal Party and the United Bahamian Party, both of which won 18 seats...
the UBP received more votes than the PLP, but they won the same number of seats. With the support of the sole Labour Party
Labour Party (Bahamas)
The Labour Party was a minor political party in the Bahamas. In the 1962 general elections it won a single seat, taken by Randol Fawkes. Fawkes retained his seat in the 1967 elections, in which the United Bahamian Party and the Progressive Liberal Party won 18 seats each. Although the UBP had won...
MP the PLP was able to form the country's first black-led government.
The PLP dominated national politics until the 1990s, winning every election until 1992
Bahamian general election, 1992
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 19 August 1992. Although the ruling Progressive Liberal Party won 55.1% of the vote, the Free National Movement won 33 of the 49 seats. Voter turnout was 91.1%.-Results:...
when they were defeated by the Free National Movement
Free National Movement
The Free National Movement is a socially liberal and economically conservative political party in The Bahamas. It is currently the ruling party, winning 23 of the 41 seats in the Bahamas House of Assembly on May 2, 2007; two of these seats are currently being contested in Electorial Court by the...
(which the UBP had formed by a merger in 1971). The FNM won the next elections in 1997
Bahamian general election, 1997
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 14 March 1997. The result was a victory for the Free National Movement, which won 35 of the 40 seats, although a by-election later reduced this to 34. Voter turnout was 92.9%. Hubert Ingraham was sworn in for a second term as Prime Minister on 18...
in which voter turnout hit a record 98.5%, but power was ceded back to the PLP in 2002
Bahamian general election, 2002
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 2 May 2002. The opposition Progressive Liberal Party won 29 of the 40 seats in the House of Assembly to defeat the governing Free National Movement . Voter turnout was 90.2%.-Background:...
. The FNM returned to power again in 2007
Bahamian general election, 2007
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 2 May 2007. The result was an opposition victory, with the Free National Movement, led by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, claiming 23 of the 41 seats. Incumbent Prime Minister Perry Christie conceded defeat in a phone call to his rival. Ingraham...
.