Jump to content

2026 Bahamian general election

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2026 Bahamian general election
← 2021
12 May 2026
All 41 seats in the House of Assembly
21 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Philip Davis Michael Pintard
Party PLP FNM
Leader's seat Cat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador Marco City
Last election 52.59%, 32 seats 36.45%, 7 seats
Seats needed Steady Increase 14
Incumbent Prime Minister

Philip Davis
PLP



General elections are scheduled to be held in The Bahamas on 12 May 2026 to elect all 41 members of the House of Assembly.[1] The election was called early by Prime Minister Philip Davis, with Parliament dissolved on 8 April 2026 and the writs of election issued the following day.[2] The election will be held using 41 constituencies following a boundary review that created two additional seats, St James and Bimini and Berry Islands.[3]

Background

[edit]

In the 2021 general election, held on 16 September 2021, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) led by opposition leader Philip Davis won a landslide victory over the incumbent Free National Movement (FNM) government of Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, winning 32 of the 39 seats in the House of Assembly.[4][5] Minnis conceded defeat on election night and Davis was sworn in as Prime Minister on 17 September 2021.[6][7] The turnout was about 65% of registered voters, likely the lowest general election turnout in modern Bahamian history. The PLP's 32 seats were its highest seat total since the 1982 election, while the FNM's seven seats were its lowest total since the 1977 election.[5] Former Prime Minister Perry Christie argued after the 2021 result that, for more than two decades, no Bahamian government had won consecutive terms, and said the incoming administration's "survival" would depend on understanding this voting pattern.[8]

After the 2021 defeat, the FNM held a one-day leadership convention in November 2021 and elected Marco City MP Michael Pintard as leader, with 297 delegate votes (67%) against Kwasi Thompson and Iram Lewis.[9] Pintard later retained the leadership in a challenge from Minnis at the FNM convention on 1 June 2024, winning 486 votes to 163.[10]

By-elections and defections

[edit]

During the 2021–2026 parliamentary term, two House of Assembly seats became vacant following the deaths of sitting PLP MPs and were filled in by-elections, while one MP changed party affiliation.

On 25 September 2023, Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting and West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe died in office, triggering a by-election in the constituency.[11] On 22 November 2023, in the by-election, PLP candidate Kingsley Smith won with 2,150 votes, defeating FNM candidate Bishop Ricardo Grant (1,276).[12]

On 2 April 2025, Iram Lewis (Central Grand Bahama) resigned from the FNM and joined the Coalition of Independents (COI), becoming the party's first sitting representative in Parliament.[13]

On 28 September 2025, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller died, creating another vacancy in the House.[14] On 24 November 2025, in the Golden Isles by-election, PLP candidate Darron Pickstock won 1,873 votes (48.36%) ahead of FNM candidate Brian Brown (1,636).[15]

Timeline

[edit]

On 1 April 2026, Davis announced that he would advise the governor-general to dissolve Parliament on 8 April, that the writs of election would be issued on 9 April, and that polling day would be held on 12 May. He also said that the register of voters for the election would close at the end of 8 April, the statutory deadline for new registrations and constituency transfers.[2] The election was called several months before the last possible date, as the next general election had not been due until mid-October 2026.[1]

On 8 April, Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles, acting as provost marshal, read the proclamation dissolving Parliament. The next session of Parliament was set for 20 May.[16] Nomination Day was held on 16 April, and the advance poll was scheduled for 30 April.[17]

Electoral system

[edit]

Members of the House of Assembly are elected from single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting.[18] The majority party then selects the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the Governor-General.[19]

Electoral boundaries are reviewed ahead of general elections by a Constituencies Commission. In 2024, a new Constituencies Commission was appointed to begin another review of the electoral boundaries in preparation for the next general election.[20] By late 2025, the commission was considering changes to several large or sparsely populated constituencies, including MICAL, Killarney, Golden Isles, and West Grand Bahama and Bimini.[21] The commission had proposed creating two new constituencies by splitting Killarney and West Grand Bahama and Bimini, citing the size of those electorates, including reports that Killarney had more than 7,000 registered voters and West Grand Bahama and Bimini had 6,070.[22] In January 2026, the commission's report was tabled in the House of Assembly and confirmed the creation of two new constituencies — St James and Bimini and Berry Islands — raising the total number of constituencies from 39 to 41.[23][24] The changes were set out in the House of Assembly Revision of Boundaries and Re-distribution of Seats Order, 2026 (S.I. No. 5 of 2026), which divided The Bahamas into 41 constituencies: 25 in New Providence, five in Grand Bahama, and 11 in the Family Islands. The order specified that the revised boundaries and seat distribution would not affect the existing House of Assembly, but would apply only from the next general election once its date was appointed by proclamation.[3]

In 2025, the government introduced the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025 as part of a package of reforms to modernise election administration. Among other measures, the bill provided for the introduction of optional biometric voter cards, secure electronic poll books, and voter verification exercises every ten years.[25][26] The legislation replaced the concept of a permanent voter card with a biometric card valid for ten years and allowed biometric data already held by the passport office to be used with a voter's consent.[26] The Senate passed the bill in August 2025; Attorney General Ryan Pinder said the amendments would create a legal framework for biometric voter cards and a biometric elections register.[27]

In January 2026, Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson said that more than 196,000 people were registered to vote, adding that the Parliamentary Registration Department was continuing work to remove duplicate registrations and deceased persons from the register ahead of the general election.[28] By April 2026, Thompson said that more than 209,000 voters were registered. He also said that the new biometric voter card was not mandatory and that voters could use the existing purple voter card in the 2026 election.[29]

Election administration and observation

[edit]

On 20 April 2026, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government of The Bahamas signed an agreement establishing the privileges and immunities of an OAS Electoral Observation Mission for the election. The OAS said this would be the fourth time it had observed an election in The Bahamas and designated Sherry Tross of Saint Kitts and Nevis as chief of mission.[30] The United States also planned to deploy accredited embassy observers.[31]

Ahead of the advance poll, early voting was available to categories including senior citizens, special voters, members of the uniformed branches, students abroad and pregnant women. The Parliamentary Registration Department said that overseas voting would take place at 13 missions, with about 400 voters expected to cast ballots abroad, while advance polling in The Bahamas would be held at 17 polling stations in New Providence and Grand Bahama.[32]

Parties and leaders

[edit]
Parties and leaders
Party Leader Candidates
PLP Philip Davis 41
FNM Michael Pintard 41
COI Lincoln Bain 41
Independents N/A 18

Campaign

[edit]

The campaign took place against a backdrop of concerns over the cost of living, crime, immigration, government transparency, housing, healthcare and public services.[1] On 1 April 2026, the government removed VAT from unprepared food sold in grocery stores, a measure it had presented as relief for households facing the rising cost of living.[33]

The governing PLP launched its 2026 platform, Blueprint for Progress, at the University of The Bahamas in April 2026. The platform included proposals on migrant health insurance, tighter immigration enforcement, expanded worker protections, artificial intelligence and digital government, housing, competition policy, agriculture, healthcare and Family Island development.[34] Davis said the PLP had completed or commenced 325 of the 387 commitments made in its 2021 Blueprint for Change, and the government released a public tracker of those commitments.[35]

The opposition FNM released a 54-page manifesto titled We Work For You. The party promised to remove VAT from everyday essentials, medical costs and educational supplies, introduce a national lottery, build at least 5,000 homes, begin implementation of the Freedom of Information Act within 90 days of taking office, and hire 100 doctors and 200 nurses.[36]

The COI campaigned as an alternative to the two major parties and promoted a first-100-days programme focused on immigration, crime, healthcare, education and culture.[37] The election was expected to be mainly a contest between the PLP and FNM, although the COI had drawn attention during the campaign. No prime minister of an independent Bahamas had previously been elected from a third party.[1]

Candidates

[edit]

Nomination Day was held on 16 April 2026. Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson said that about 130 candidates were nominated across the 41 constituencies, with no applications rejected and only limited issues reported in a few constituencies.[38] The official list of nominated candidates was published in the Bahamas Gazette.[39]

Several sitting or former MPs contested the election outside their previous party arrangements. Former prime minister Hubert Minnis ran as an independent candidate in Killarney after severing ties with the FNM, while former MP Frederick McAlpine and MP Leroy Major also announced independent bids.[40][41][42] In April 2025, Iram Lewis had resigned from the FNM and joined the Coalition of Independents, becoming the party's first sitting MP.[43]

In June 2025, two PLP MPs, Alfred Sears of Fort Charlotte and Basil McIntosh of MICAL, announced that they would not seek re-election.[44][45] Ahead of Nomination Day, the PLP's National General Council ratified its slate of candidates by early February 2026, while the FNM had ratified 39 candidates by 4 February.[46][47][48] The COI also ratified candidates before the election; in September 2024 the party unveiled its first 19 candidates, and in January 2026 it said it had three ratifications remaining to complete a full slate.[49][50]

Candidates by constituency

[edit]

Candidates (incumbents in bold) by constituency:[39][51]

Constituency PLP FNM COI Independent
Bain Town and Grants Town Wayde Watson Jay Philippe Antonio Bain Brenda Pinder-Harris
Bamboo Town Patricia Deveaux Duane Sands Maria Daxon
Bimini and Berry Islands Randy Rolle Carlton Bowleg Hyram Rolle Paul Rolle
Carmichael Keith Bell Arinthia Komolafe Charlotte Green O'Brien Thomas Knowles,
Simeon Mackey
Cat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador Philip Davis Mike Holmes Donna McKay
Central and South Abaco Bradley Fox Jeremy Sweeting Crystal Williams
Central and South Eleuthera Clay Sweeting Philippa Kelly Bekera Grant-Taylor
Central Grand Bahama Parkco R. Deal Frazette Gibson Iram Lewis
Centreville Jomo Campbell Darvin Russell Jamaal Woodside
East Grand Bahama Monique Pratt Kwasi Thompson Dexter Edwards
Englerston Glenys Hanna Martin Heather McDonald Faith Percentie
Elizabeth JoBeth Coleby-Davis Heather Watkins-Hunt Donna Dorsett-Major
Fort Charlotte Sebastian Bastian Travis Robinson Daphaney Johnson
Fox Hill Fred Mitchell Nicholas Fox Bobby Brown
Freetown Wayne Munroe Lincoln Deal II Olivia Ingraham-Griffin Andrew Johnson,
Patrice Hanna-Carey
Garden Hills Mario Bowleg Rick Fox Shantiqua Ayesha Cleare
Golden Gates Pia Glover-Rolle Michael Foulkes Sharmaine Adderley Anthony Rahming
Golden Isles Darron Pickstock Brian Brown Brian Rolle Karen Kim Butler
Killarney Robyn Lynes Michela Barnett-Ellis Veronica McIver Hubert Minnis
Long Island Reneika Knowles Andre Rollins Shura Pratt Natasha Turnquest
Mangrove Cay and South Andros Leon Lundy Julian Gibson Carlton Cleare
Marathon Lisa Rahming Jacqueline Penn-Knowles Tyrone Greene
Marco City Eddie Whann Michael Pintard Jillian Bartlett
MICAL Ronnell Armbrister James Leo Ferguson Jermaine Higgs Kate Williamson
Mount Moriah McKell Bonaby Marvin Dames Linda Stubbs
Nassau Village Jamahl Strachan Gadville McDonald Stephen McQueen
North Abaco Kirk Cornish Terrece Bootle Cay Mills Ryan Forbes
North Andros Leonardo Lightbourne Janice Oliver Indera Laing
North Eleuthera Sylvannus Petty Howard Rickey Mackey Natasha Mitchell
Pineridge Ginger Moxey Charlene Reid Daniel Mitchell Frederick McAlpine
Pinewood Myles Laroda Denarii Rolle Lincoln Bain
Saint Anne's Keno Wong Adrian White Graham Weatherford Otis Forbes
Saint Barnabas Michael Halkitis Jamal Moss Karen Butler
Sea Breeze Leslia Miller-Brice Trevania Clarke-Hall William Knowles Jr.
South Beach Bacchus Rolle Darren Henfield Karon Farrington
Southern Shores S. Obie Roberts Denalee Penn-Knowles Kirk Farrington Leroy Major
St. James Owen Wells Shanendon Cartwright Latoya Bain Craig Powell,
Elkin Benedict Sutherland
Tall Pines Michael Darville Serfent Rolle Trevor Greene
The Exumas and Ragged Island Chester Cooper Debra Moxey-Rolle Byron Smith Deidre Ann Taylor
West Grand Bahama Kingsley Smith Omar Isaacs Toni Stubbs-Albury
Yamacraw Zane Lightbourne Elsworth Johnson Yvette Prince

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Ward, Jasper (1 April 2026). "Bahamas heads for early election on May 12". Reuters. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Statement by Prime Minister the Hon. Philip Edward Davis on the Dissolution of Parliament and the 2026 General Election". Office of the Prime Minister. 1 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  3. ^ a b "House of Assembly Revision of Boundaries and Re-distribution of Seats Order, 2026 (S.I. No. 5 of 2026)" (PDF). Bahamas Laws Online. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Whatever you do – vote". The Tribune. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Election turnout was historic low". The Tribune. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  6. ^ Russell, Khrisna (17 September 2021). "Minnis staying on to lead FNM in opposition". The Tribune. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Philip 'Brave' Davis sworn in as Prime Minister". The Tribune. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  8. ^ "BE CAREFUL: Former PM Christie says low voter turnout marks new type of demonstration". Eyewitness News. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  9. ^ "FNM elects Michael Pintard as new leader". The Tribune. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Pintard retains leadership as Minnis challenge fails". The Tribune. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  11. ^ "BREAKING: Social Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe dies". The Tribune. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  12. ^ "PLP VOTE RISES AS SMITH WINS RACE – Davis: We wanted to win for Obie". The Tribune. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  13. ^ "IRAM RESIGNS: Central GB MP leaves FNM for Coalition of Independents". The Tribune. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Cabinet minister Vaughn Miller dies". The Tribune. 28 September 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  15. ^ "FNM flat as by-election bid falls a 'bit short'". The Tribune. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  16. ^ Bowleg, Earyel (9 April 2026). "Parliament dissolves as voters endure hours in long lines on final day of registration". The Tribune. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  17. ^ Williams, Joshua (9 April 2026). "Nomination Day April 16th, Advanced Poll April 30th". Our News. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  18. ^ "Bahamas (House of Assembly), Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  19. ^ "Eight Things You Should Know About The Bahamas Election Today". News American Now. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  20. ^ "Boundaries Commission to begin preparing for the next general election". Eyewitness News. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  21. ^ "DPM: Boundaries Commission Considering Change To MICAL". Our News. 2 October 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  22. ^ "Two new constituencies proposed – with splits in Killarney and West GB and Bimini". The Tribune. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  23. ^ "Boundaries Commission proposes two new seats: St James and Bimini and the Berry Islands". The Tribune. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  24. ^ "HOA Constituencies Commission Report Tabled". ZNS Bahamas. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Davis defends plan for biometric voter card". The Tribune. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  26. ^ a b "Parliamentary Elections Bill". ZNS Bahamas. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  27. ^ "Senators Pass Parliamentary Elections Amendment Bill 2025". ZNS Bahamas. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  28. ^ "Voter registration tops 196k ahead of upcoming election". The Tribune. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  29. ^ "Parliamentary Registration Dept. set to issue another batch of new biometric voter's cards in Grand Bahama". ZNS Bahamas. 24 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  30. ^ "OAS to Observe General Elections in The Bahamas". Organization of American States. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  31. ^ Ward, Jasper (23 April 2026). "US to deploy election observers in The Bahamas". Reuters. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  32. ^ "Thousands Set To Cast Early Ballots". ZNS Bahamas. 27 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  33. ^ "Statement by Prime Minister the Hon. Philip Davis on Meeting Representatives of Retail Grocery Industry Ahead of April 1st VAT Relief". Bahamas.gov.bs. 18 March 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  34. ^ Rolle, Rashad (9 April 2026). "Prime Minister Davis has 'Blueprint for Progress'". The Tribune. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  35. ^ "PLP Blueprint For Progress Launch". ZNS Bahamas. 10 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  36. ^ Rolle, Rashad (13 April 2026). "FNM: We work for you, not the few". The Tribune. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  37. ^ "100DayPlan". Coalition of Independents. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  38. ^ "Motorcades and music mark a festive Nomination Day". The Tribune. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  39. ^ a b "Notice of Nominations and Notice of Poll" (PDF). The Bahamas Gazette. Parliamentary Registration Department. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  40. ^ "Minnis severs ties with FNM for independent Killarney run". The Tribune. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  41. ^ "McAlpine to run independent again: 'We gon' be ready this time'". The Tribune. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  42. ^ Campbell, Keile (9 April 2026). "Leroy Major will contest Southern Shores as an independent". The Tribune. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  43. ^ "IRAM RESIGNS: Central GB MP leaves FNM for Coalition of Independents". The Tribune. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  44. ^ Scott, Rachel (11 June 2025). "Sears will not seek reelection". The Nassau Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  45. ^ "McIntosh said he will not seek reelection". The Nassau Guardian. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  46. ^ "PLP Ratification Exercise". ZNS Bahamas. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  47. ^ "FNM to ratify eight candidates as election race heats up". The Tribune. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  48. ^ "Rick Fox joins FNM as twelve ratified". The Tribune. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  49. ^ Munnings, Lynaire (17 September 2024). "Coalition of Independents unveil its first 19 candidates". The Tribune. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  50. ^ "COI: Three Ratifications To Go For A Full Slate". ZNS Bahamas. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  51. ^ "Bahamas General Election 2026". BahamasLocal.com. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2026_Bahamian_general_election&oldid=1352861884"