With voter registration for the next general election set to begin next Monday, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall said he expects up to 20,000 new registered voters. More than 176,700 people are on the current register, which will expire in July 2016. A new register of voters must be created before the next election.

“Some people may have registered with nothing in the past,” Hall said during a press conference. We are not going to make the same mistake we made in the past. We are not perfect, but our responsibility is to improve the system, step, by step, by step.

"If someone fell through the cracks years ago, we now have the capability and facilities to pick them up from the system and find out that you ‘swung’ us the first time, [but] it is not going to happen again. And so, we are trying to weed out those people who may have ‘swung’ us by bringing in fake affidavits or fake birth certificates.”

Ahead of the 2012 general election, allegations of voter fraud were raised in North Andros by then Education Minister Desmond Bannister, who was the Free National Movement’s candidate for the area.

Former Parliamentary Commissioner Errol Bethel faced criticisms during the 2007 general election and the Elizabeth by-election in 2010.

Hall said the register tends to increase between 15,000 and 20,000 every election cycle. He said this accounts for population growth and Bahamians who have reached the voting age, 18.

Hall said the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) convention in November will likely generate political interest which could have an impact on people registering.

“Traditionally, political activities, rallies and other things of that nature have a positive effect on encouraging people or stimulating people to come in to register,” Hall said.

“Of course, you must satisfy the conditions of the Parliamentary Elections Act; you must present your passport, number one; you must present your birth certificate, number two.

“Those with an old voter’s card, we ask you to come into the main headquarters.”

The registration stations on New Providence and the Family Islands will be open between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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