Division Of Constituency
The Commonwealth of Dominica is divided into twenty one (21) constituencies and each constituency is divided into polling districts. There are one hundred and eleven (111) polling districts.
Registration As An Elector
For the purposes of the registration of electors, there is:
- A Registration Officer for each constituency;
- An Assistant Registering Officer for each polling district.
(Registration is done at the homes of the officers or as otherwise specified by the Electoral Office and times stated).
A person is qualified to be registered as an elector for a polling district if he:
- is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica; or
- is a Commonwealth citizen who has resided in Dominica for a period of twelve months immediately before the qualifying date; and
- is eighteen years of age or over, and
- has resided in that polling district for a continuous period of at least three months immediately preceding the date of registration; but in the case of a person who has attained the age of eighteen years within the period of three months immediately preceding the date of his registration, no such residence qualification shall be required.
Persons who present themselves for registration should bring along some form of pictoral identification, proof of age and be accompanied by a witness who is registered in the same polling district.
A person is not qualified to be registered as an elector for more than one polling district.
Where a person who is registered as an elector for a polling district has ceased to reside in that polling district he shall not on that account cease to be qualified to be registered as an elector for that polling district until he has become qualified to be registered as an elector for another polling district.
A person is disqualified from being registered as an elector and shall not be so registered if he –
- is a person found or declared to be a person of unsound mind or a patient in any establishment maintained wholly or mainly for the reception and treatment of persons suffering form mental illness or mental defectiveness by virtue of any written law;
- is undergoing any sentence of imprisonment in Dominica;
- is under sentence of death imposed on him by a court in any part of the Commonwealth or under sentence of imprisonment (by whatever name called) exceeding twelve months imposed on him by such a court or under some sentence substituted therefore by competent authority and has not suffered the punishment to which he was sentenced or received a free pardon therefore, or
- is under any written law disqualified for registration as an elector.
A person registered shall remain registered unless and until his name is deleted from the register because:
- he has died;
- an objection to his registration has been allowed;
- he has been absent from Dominica for a period exceeding five years; or
- he has become disqualified for registration as an elector under this Act
or any other written law imposing disqualifications for registration as an elector.
There is a continuous registration of all persons qualified to be registered as electors.
Publication Of Electors Lists
The Chief Elections Officer prepares for publication a preliminary list of electors for each polling district every 30th September.
This list comprises of:
- electors who have notified the Chief Elections Officer of change of address in a new polling district;
- persons who have changed their address within the constituency;
- persons who have reached the age of eighteen (18) years of age and are qualified for registration and any other qualified persons.
An objection notice is published on publication of the preliminary register. This notice allows the general public the opportunity to scrutinize the lists and make objections where necessary and to bring to the attention of the Electoral Office or the registration officers in the polling districts any discrepancies found therein.
By 30th November a final corrected list of electors is published.
There are quarterly lists published yearly, which comprises of new electors only. These periods commence 1st December, 1st March, 1st June, and 1st September.
Offences (Relating To Registration)
A person who –
- has ceased to be a Commonwealth citizen after attaining the age of eighteen years and has not subsequently thereto become a Commonwealth citizen; or
- has not attained the age of eighteen years; or
- does not have the requisite residential qualifications for inclusion in the register of electors,
and who willfully makes any claim to be included in the register of electors is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1500.00) or to imprisonment for three months.
A person who objects under this Act or the Regulations to the inclusion of any other person in any list or register relating to electors prepared under this Act or the Regulations upon any ground which he knows or has reasonable cause to believe to be false is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1500.00) or to imprisonment for three months.
A person who knowingly makes a false statement for the purpose of being registered as and elector is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand five hundred dollars ( $ 1500.00) or to imprisonment for three months.
A registering officer, assistant registering officer, or an enumerator who willfully or without reasonable excuse omits to register the name of any person qualified to be registered is liable on summary conviction to a fine of three thousand dollars ($3000.00) or to imprisonment for six months.
Village Council Election
The term of office of each council unless the council is dissolved sooner shall be of three years duration. At the expiration of every term a general election is held.
If any vacancy occurs in the office of elected members of a council, a by-election is conducted to fill the vacancy/vacancies.
The village council comprises of eight (8) members, five (5) of whom are elected and three (3) of whom are nominated by the Minister responsible.
Prior to polling day, persons present themselves for election, on nomination day. Every person who presents himself/herself for election must be nominated by two registered electors in the village district.
Where there are more candidates nominated than required (in the case of a general election more than five (5) and in the case of a by-election, more than the number required to fill existing vacancies) a poll is conducted.
Where the exact number of persons or less present themselves for elections, those persons are declared duly elected. Provided that a sufficient number is not elected or no one presented themselves for the election, the Minister shall nominate as many additional members as may be required to constitute the Council.
Qualification Of Members Of The Village Council
No person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of a Council unless he:-
- is a citizen of the State;
- is able to read and write English;
- has attained the age of eighteen years;
- is resident in the village district, and
- is not a Minister of Religion.
Except in keeping with the provisions of any law enabling him to do so, a civil servant shall be disqualified for membership of a Village Council.
Meaning Of Minister Of Religion
"Minister of Religion" means any clergyman, minister, priest, or other person who exercises spiritual functions or performs the offices of religion for or in respect of any Christian or other church, community or body within the State.
References:
- Registration of Electors Act (Act 13 of 1974), Chap 2:03, Laws of Dominica (PDF, 1.7 MB)
- House of Assembly (Elections) Act Chap. 2:01, Laws of Dominica (PDF, 2.8 MB)
For more information, contact:
Electoral Office
Commission's Building
Jewel Street
Roseau
Dominica
Tel: (767) 266 3336
Fax: (767) 448 3399
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.