Changes Recommended In Saint Kitts & Nevis Electoral Process

Team Unity supporters celebrating their February 2015 victory.

News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Thurs. May 7, 2015: Observers of the Organization of American States (OAS) Electoral Observation Mission who observed the recent general elections in St. Kitts & Nevis are suggesting several changes in the country’s electoral laws before the next election.

In a report presented to the Permanent Council of the OAS, Chief of the EOM, United States diplomat Frank Almaguer, acknowledged the political will among all St. Kitts & Nevis political parties regarding the need to realign constituency boundaries “in order to guarantee a more equal representation of the electorate, as required by law.”

The report also suggests that, in future electoral processes, electoral authorities implement a timely communication strategy to inform all stakeholders about early voting procedures, including the handling of ballot boxes on election night.

It also notes that during the pre-election period the list of voters should be published with sufficient time before election day, as prescribed by law, and mentions that the EOM received several complaints about the delay in the publication of the list.

The report also reflected the complaint of representatives of the opposition and civil society that public television did not provide equitable coverage to the opposition campaign.

General elections in Saint Kitts and Nevis were held on February 16. Only one woman out of 22 candidates was nominated for the 2015 general elections.