BY ARIANNA NEELY 

BAHAMA JOURNAL STAFF WRITER 

Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Chester Cooper is urging Bahamians to take responsibility for their voter information and ensure that it is up to date, warning that thousands of electors remain incorrectly registered, despite having moved to new communities years ago. Cooper’s remarks come as the government prepares to implement sweeping electoral reforms that will introduce biometric voter’s cards and a nationwide verification exercise – changes expected to transform the country’s voter registration system for the first time in decades.

Mr. Cooper said the Parliamentary Registration Department continues to struggle with outdated entries on the permanent register, largely because Bahamians who move do not return to update their details. “I encourage Bahamians everywhere, if you’re not registered, to get registered,” he said. “And if you’ve transferred, if you’ve left a constituency to go in. It’s an easy process. Just take two forms of ID, go to the Parliamentary Registration Department and help them to update the Parliamentary Registration.”

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that, despite the belief that the register updates automatically, the system cannot correct itself without the involvement of voters. “No, no, no,” he said firmly. “it needs updating, and the Bahamian people need to present themselves to cause that updating to happen.”

Cooper’s appeal reflects growing concern that the current register does not accurately represent the nation’s voting population.  During the most recent bye-election, both major political parties struggled to identify more than 5,000 names believed to be listed in the Golden Isles constituency register, raising fresh questions about the accuracy of voter locations and the reliability of the register during election periods. Officials say that years of population shifts, interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the absence of routine transfer campaigns have left the system deeply outdated.

At the same time, the government is preparing to introduce the most significant modernization of the electoral system since the introduction of the permanent register. The upcoming reforms will require all registered voters to undergo a verification exercise and transition to a new biometric voter identification card.  These changes are part of a broader legislative overhaul that includes the new Data Protection Bill 2025, which establishes strict national standards for handling personal and biometric data.

Attorney-General Hon. Ryan Pinder, who tabled the legislation in the Senate, said the new framework is necessary to bring The Bahamas in line with global standards, especially as biometric data becomes central to modern identification and security systems. He explained that the existing 2003 privacy law is outdated and no longer capable of addressing the risks associated with today’s technology-driven environment.

Mr.  Pinder noted that biometric data – such as fingerprints, facial scans, and other unique identifiers — is already used in everyday activities, from unlocking mobile phones to passing through border security systems. He said the government must create a strong, modern legal structure to ensure such sensitive information is handled safely and transparently.

Importantly, the Attorney-General highlighted that recent amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act specifically introduce biometric voter registration. Under the law, every registered voter will be required to present themselves at one of the Parliamentary Registration Department’s verification centres to update their information and obtain a new, secure biometric voter’s card. He emphasized that the move is “a natural progression” from paper cards that once contained handwritten details and taped-on photographs.

According to the Attorney-General, the verification exercise is vital to restoring the integrity of the voter register. He referenced the recent bye-election issues as an example of why the modernization cannot be delayed. With both major political parties reporting difficulty locating thousands of individuals believed to be registered in Golden Isles, Mr. Pinder argued that biometric verification will finally allow the country to clean-up the permanent register, remove longstanding inaccuracies, and ensure that the electoral roll reflects the true composition of voters.

He added that the new Data Protection Bill provides the legal safeguards needed to protect biometric information once it is collected. The legislation aligns The Bahamas with global privacy principles, requiring data controllers including government agencies to follow strict standards for collection, storage, retention, and security.  Mr. Pinder said that the aim is to strengthen public trust, prevent misuse of sensitive information, and ensure that the transition to biometric cards occurs under the highest possible privacy protections.

The reforms come at a time when other government agencies are also embracing biometric technology. Health sector institutions, for example, have begun discussions about the introduction of secure biometric access cards for staff.  Mr. Pinder acknowledged that unions have expressed concerns, but he assured the public that strong protections will be in place, adding that biometric identification is now standard practice in many parts of the world.

For Mr. Cooper, however, the immediate priority is ensuring that Bahamians take the first necessary step: updating their registration details before the new system is implemented.  He warned that failing to do so will only complicate the verification exercise and could delay the issuance of the new voter’s cards.

Officials have signaled that once residents complete their part of the process, the Parliamentary Registration Department will be able to finalize transfers, correct outdated entries, and produce a more accurate register. The combination of biometric technology and a rigorous verification exercise is expected to improve the accuracy of future elections, reduce confusion at polling stations, and enhance confidence in the democratic process.

As the country prepares to modernize its electoral system from the ground up, Mr. Cooper’s message remains direct and urgent –  Bahamians must take responsibility for their voter information. The government can build a modern, secure, data-protected electoral framework, but only the people can ensure their records are accurate.