The concerns being raised by Bahamians across the country about the Parliamentary Registration Department warrant serious attention. A credible election depends on a registration system that is orderly, consistent, and fair. Based on verified reports and documented irregularities, it is clear that this standard is not being met.
We have confirmed incidents at registration centres, including South Beach and the Mall, where first-time voters, many of them young Bahamians, were improperly discouraged or turned away. In these cases, individuals holding valid Bahamian passports were told they could not register because their passport expires later this year and were incorrectly advised that this was due to a “new law.” No such law exists. A Bahamian passport confirms citizenship and eligibility to register, regardless of how close it may be to its expiration date.
We have also identified voters who registered or transferred in person as far back as November 2025, yet their names do not appear on the electronic register issued on January 29, 2026. These delays raise serious questions about data handling, internal controls, and whether the system is capable of keeping accurate records in a timely manner.
At the same time, we continue to find voters listed in more than one constituency, alongside individuals who are confirmed to be deceased and yet remain on the National Register.
We have also received credible reports that a PLP candidate has been campaigning inside the waiting room of the Administrator’s Office in Marsh Harbour while voters are registering, an inappropriate practice that amounts to voter intimidation and undermines the integrity of the registration process.
There are also growing concerns about how rules are being applied during the registration process. Reports of interpreters being used in some cases, while other Bahamian citizens face delays or denial under similar circumstances, highlight a lack of consistency that cannot be ignored.
Taken together, these issues paint a troubling picture of a Parliamentary Registration Department that is not operating with the consistency or preparedness this moment demands.
The Free National Movement urges all Bahamians to remain alert and informed as the registration process continues. If you are turned away from registering, ask why. If you are given information that does not sound right, challenge it. If your name is missing from the register, demand answers. Your vote is your voice, and no one has the right to take it from you.
We will continue to stand up for the rights of every eligible voter and for an electoral process that the Bahamian people can trust. Protecting the vote is not a partisan exercise; it is a responsibility owed to our democracy and to every citizen who participates in it.