By Kisean Joseph
In the latest update on the voter ID card replacement exercise, Supervisor of Elections Ian Hughes said that up to August 30, 4,209 persons had participated in the process, which was below the initial expectations.
Hughes said the original target was to process 100 registrations daily in each constituency, but while some areas are meeting this goal, others are falling short.
“We’re a little bit behind where I think we ought to be at this time,” he told Observer. “I think we should have been in the 6,000 percentiles.”
The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) is in the process of renewing 40,000 expired voter ID cards at registration centres set up across the country. There are currently just over 60,000 people eligible to vote in the country. The process commenced on August 12.
Hughes attributed the lower-than-expected numbers of registrations to date to several factors, including ongoing connectivity issues in some areas. He also noted that some citizens appear to be waiting for all registration locations to be fully operational before coming forward.
Despite the challenges, Hughes remained optimistic about the process. “The numbers are low but steady,” he said. “That’s the important thing – that persons realise they can come in and conduct the process or apply for an expired card.”
He also took the opportunity to remind the public that the operating hours at registration centres are from 8:30am to 6pm. However, he cautioned that these hours might be adjusted as the year progresses and daylight hours decrease.
“We’re looking at somewhere in maybe November when we would then say to the public, listen, our hours are now back to 8:30 until 4:30,” he explained.
Addressing concerns about potential waning interest among voters, Hughes dismissed the notion. Instead, he attributed the current pace to a common behaviour among citizens to procrastinate until a significant event, such as a by-election, is on the horizon.
“I’m quite sure that if there is a by-election to be held before the end of the year, those persons in that constituency whose cards are expired will definitely present themselves in short order,” he said.
However, he warned voters against taking this “laid-back” approach, noting that it often leads to last-minute rushes and increased pressure on the registration system, citing past experiences during election cycles where many voters with lost, stolen, or damaged cards would wait until election day to seek replacements.
As the registration process continues, Hughes urged the public to take advantage of the current extended hours and avoid waiting until the “11th hour” to register or update their voter information. By doing so, voters can help ensure a smoother process and avoid potential frustration as important electoral deadlines approach.
