Commonwealth observers praise peaceful Bahamas Election and renew call for independent electoral commission

The Commonwealth Observer Group, led by former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding, has issued its preliminary findings on the 2026 General Election in The Bahamas, commending the peaceful conduct of the polls while reiterating long standing concerns about the institutional framework governing elections.

The Group described election day as peaceful, orderly, and transparent in its execution, noting that voters were able to cast their ballots in a calm environment supported by professional polling staff, party agents, and security forces.

Presenting the interim statement in Nassau, Prime Minister Golding said the Group’s mandate was to provide “an independent, informed, and impartial assessment of the electoral process.” He added that the election reflected

“the maturity of Bahamian electoral culture in the conduct of polling and the cooperation among agents of different political parties.”

However, the Group stressed that this generally smooth and well managed conduct on election day was set against persistent structural weaknesses in the electoral system.

Chief among these was the continued absence of an independent electoral management body. The Group reiterated its long-standing recommendation, first made in previous Commonwealth reports, that The Bahamas establish such an institution to ensure impartial control and administration of elections.

The Group commended the Parliamentary Registration Department for the work undertaken to remove the names of deceased persons from the voters’ register and for the introduction of the biometric voter card. It noted that by April 2026 the electoral register comprised more than 209,000 voters.

The report also raised concerns regarding constituency delimitation arrangements, noting that the composition of the Constituencies Commission is tilted in favour of the ruling party, and warning that this has the potential to confer an unfair advantage in election outcomes.

Operational challenges were recorded during the advanced poll, including overcrowding, long waiting times, and voter confusion over registration procedures and polling assignments. The Group urged that these issues be addressed as a matter of priority in future electoral planning.

The Group concluded that while the election was credible in its execution, sustained reform is required to strengthen transparency, fairness, and public confidence in the democratic process.

The Observer Group thanked the people of The Bahamas for their hospitality and engagement throughout the process. Its final report will provide further detailed findings and recommendations and will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary General, the Hon. Shirley Botchwey, before being shared with the Government of The Bahamas, political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.

Read the full interim statement