Dominica: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit addressed the Parliament on suspension of voter registration. He also announced that the process will resume on March 09, 2026 with legal requirements for continuous registration under the law Registration of Electors Act.
PM Skerrit underscored that Section-17(1) of the Registration of Electors Act clearly mandates the continuous registration of all qualified electors. He emphasised that the law imposes on ongoing statutory obligation and does not provide for suspension based on administrative convenience or technological readiness.
He stated that it is the right of every eligible citizen of Dominica to be registered to vote, which is foundational to the democratic system. This interruption particularly affected the young citizens who has recently attained voting age and were seeking to exercise their constitutional rights for the first time.
Prime Minister of Dominica further described this year-long suspension as a serious administrative failure. This decision raises the argument that even if new technology systems were not operational, the Electoral Commission has always remained legally obligated to continue registration through manual or legacy methods.
Dr. Skerrit also mentioned about the identification requirements for voter registration under the Registration of Electors Act, 2025. He noted that Parliament had deliberately provided accessible alternatives for individuals without government-issued identification. This includes the submission of a passport-sized photograph certified by a Justice of the Peace.
He also acknowledged the Commission issued SRO No.39 of 2025 for removing the certified photograph as an acceptable option on October 14, 2025. According to the PM Skerrit, this decision departed from intent of Parliament and placed certain voters at a disadvantage.
Skerrit also said that the Government requested the Commission to amend the regulations to reinstate the identification alternative, as a request to which the Commission has agreed. At the same time, he firmly rejected any suggestion of government interference in the Commission’s operations. He stressed that the Electoral Commission is an independent constitutional body and that neither the Government nor the Dominica Labour Party directs or influences its decisions.
While welcoming the March 09, 2026 resumption date, the Prime Minister urged the Commission to ensure that registration proceeds lawfully, efficiently and without any interruption. He also encouraged all eligible citizens to take advantage of the opportunity to register, by reiterating the Government’s commitment to the rule of law, institutional independence and the protection of democratic rights in Dominica.