WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT REGISTRATION

Qualification for Registration as a Voter

A person seeking to be registered should:

• Have attained the age of eighteen (18) years or upwards on the date on which he applies to be registered as a voter.

• Be a citizen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; or Be a Commonwealth Citizen who has been residing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a period of not less than twelve months preceding the date on which he applies to be registered as a voter.

In the case of points 1 and 2 the person must be living in the constituency for a period of not less than six months immediately preceding the date on which he applies to be registered as a voter.

WHERE SHOULD ONE GO TO GET REGISTERED

• At the registration centre set up by the Electoral Office in the respective Constituency.

• At the Electoral Office in Kingstown (optional)

   

THE RIGHT TO REMAIN REGISTERED AS A VOTER

Every person registered as a voter shall remain registered unless and until his/her name is deleted from the register because:

• He/she has died

• An objection to his/her registration has been allowed by the Registering Officer/Supervisor of  Elections.

• He/She has been absent from St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a period exceeding five (5) years - except in cases of absence   for approved studies abroad.
• He/She is 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 people suffering from mental  illness.
• Is undergoing any sentence of imprisonment in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
• Is under sentence of death imposed on him by a competent court in any part of the Commonwealth or  under sentence of imprisonment exceeding 12 months.

REGRISTRATION IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

For the purpose of election of Representatives St. Vincent and the Grenadines is divided into fifteen (15) constituencies. The boundaries of the constituencies are prescribed by order made by the Constituency Boundaries Commission. Registering Officers are appointed by the Governor General and one is assigned to each constituency for the purpose of carrying out the process of registration of voters.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR REGISTRATION AS A VOTER

1. Original Birth certificate; or Passport
2. NIS card/number
3. Marriage certificate (if married)

NB: When a person gets registered his/her name is added to the voters’ list and a national identification card is issued to the person.  If at any time the identification card is stolen, lost, burnt or misplaced, the person should:

• Report it to the Registering Officer in his/her constituency or report to the office in Kingstown.  A reprint of the ID card will be made and issued in about 2-3 months after the report was received.

NB: The person must never do a new registration if his/her card is lost.  A new registration will create a double registration and that is against the law.

REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSFER TO ANOTHER CONSTITUENCY

Person requesting a change of residence must be living in the constituency in which he needs to be registered for at least six (6) months on the date on which the person applies for the transfer.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR A CHANGE OF NAME

The person requesting a change of name must present to the officer the original documents that gives proof that his/her name is different from that which appears on the voters’ list.
The documents include:

• Deed Poll
• Affidavit
• Passport
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Divorce papers

NB.  On the request for a change of name the Identification Card with the first name must be surrendered.