Head of the Electoral Department Herman St. Helen, has assured the public that Saint Lucia’s electoral system is prepared should an election be called before 2026.
“The department is always in a state of readiness for us when an election is called,” St. Helen stated.
He explained that the office continuously works throughout the year to keep processes updated, ensuring smooth execution whenever elections are announced.
Addressing whether there will be any procedural adjustments, St. Helen made it clear that “generally there are no changes. Changes can only come when they are done by law.” He confirmed that no amendments have been made to the Elections Act, meaning no new rules or modifications are currently in effect.
On the topic of voter registration, St. Helen highlighted a positive trend.
“We see a steady increase in the number of persons coming into our offices to be registered,” noting the growing activity as an encouraging sign of public engagement.
As for advice to voters, he emphasised the importance of preparation.
“We will advise everybody to ensure that the names are on the voters list. They need to ensure that they know in which pooling station…they vote. They need to ensure that they have an ID card, which is current.”
He added that in the absence of a voter ID, other picture IDs can be used, provided the individual’s name is already on the official list.
Saint Lucia is divided into 17 electoral districts, each electing one Member of Parliament to the House of Assembly under a first-past-the-post system with general elections constitutionally due every five years. An election may be called earlier if Parliament is dissolved on the advice of the Prime Minister and the approval of the Governor-General.
Once the election date is set, candidates are nominated by political parties or may stand independently. On polling day, stations open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and all eligible voters in line by closing time are allowed to cast their ballots. Voters must present valid identification and vote within the polling division where they are registered.
To be eligible to vote, a person must be 18 years or older by the qualifying date, be a citizen of Saint Lucia or a Commonwealth citizen who has lived in the country for at least seven years and reside in their electoral district for at least two months prior to the qualifying date.
Voter registration is conducted by the Electoral Department, headquartered at #23 High Street, Castries, with a sub-office in Vieux Fort. Temporary registration centres are also set up in various communities during registration periods.
First-time applicants must present a birth certificate, National Insurance Card, and, if applicable, a marriage certificate or documents proving citizenship such as a Certificate of Registration or Naturalization. Those changing addresses must also provide proof of residence, such as recent utility bills.
Once successfully registered, voters are issued an official identification card, which must be presented at polling stations.
To see if you’re registered and find your polling division/location, visit https://www.sluelectoral.com/electoral/voter-record-search/
