Around 119,000 Bahamians have registered to vote in the next general election, Parliamentary Commissioner Errol Bethel told The Nassau Guardianyesterday.
Of that total, 50,000 are from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands, Bethel confirmed.
He suggested registration has slowed in recent weeks because people think the recent closing of the old voter register meant the closing of voter registration altogether. Registration will continue until an election is called and Bethel encouraged Bahamians to continue to register.
Bethel said his department probably did not even register 1,000 voters this past week.
The department issued a public notice yesterday asking Bahamians to take advantage of the registration locations that are open today at the Parliamentary Registration Department, the Mall at Marathon and the Town Centre Mall. Those locations will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The notice also reminded the public that registration centers at the Parliamentary Registration Department, the Mall at Marathon, the Town Centre Mall, the National Insurance Board, Baillou Hill Road, Lowes Pharmacy, Soldier Road, the South Beach Post Office, the Carmichael Post Office, the Elizabeth Estates Post Office, the General Post Office and Super Value Food Store, Mackey Street, will be open August 8 to 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Evening registration centers will be open at the Parliamentary Registration Department, the Mall at Marathon, and the Town Centre Mall from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
"The public is reminded that only Bahamian citizens 18 years and older are eligible to register to vote and applicants are required to produce proof of citizenship," the notice read.
Bethel said there is still a lot of work for his department to do considering that the boundaries commission has not yet met.
"After the boundaries commission is done, then voters cards will be issued," he said. "There is lots of work for the Parliamentary Registration Department."

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