By Gerrino J. Saunders
Bahama Journal News Editor

After passing in the House of Assembly a week ago Senators debated the Parliamentary
Elections Amendment Bill 2025 to permit and enable biometric identification cards to be used
for the 2026 general elections, Attorney General Senator Ryan Pinder led debate for the
government and wanted to dispel any notion that the new legislation applies to the actual voting
process but only seeks to eliminate fraud and voter duplication.
He said, “This Bill is intended to provide the necessary legislative support to introduce biometric
parliamentary elections register and a corresponding biometric register and corresponding voters
biometric registration cards; and I want to be clear this does not extend to the voting process
itself. We are not doing anything to change the actual voting process which will be the same
manual voting process that we have always had on a ballot as we have always utilized in our
elections. I just want to say that at the outset to be clear what we are debating, we are debating
measures related to voter registration only.”
Prime Minister Philip Davis who led debate in the lower chamber said the legislation which was
first introduced by the Minnis administration is about “safeguarding the integrity of elections.”
Despite the government’s intentions Free National Movement Senator Michaela Barnett-Ellis
who led debate for the opposition said while they support the Bill they believe the government is
being careless in moving too fast.
Barnett-Ellis who worked in five elections including Pinewood in 2002, Fort Charlotte 2007,
Elizabeth 2012, Mount Moriah in 2017 and the National Party in 2021 warned that the Bill if
enacted in its current form will “usher in sweeping and complex changes in the way Bahamians
register to vote verify their identity and protect their right to participate in free and fair
elections.”
She said, “We call on the government to slow down. Consult the people and put the safeguards
in place before collecting and transferring biometric data. The Management of biometric
information is too important to be handled carelessly. We support modernizing our elections but
it must be done with proper safeguards in place to protect the privacy and rights of every
Bahamian.”
She argued that changes to the nation’s electoral laws must always be approached with caution,
competence and the full trust and confidence of The Bahamian people.
However, she said, “Unfortunately this government has squandered much of that trust.”

According to Senator Pinder the new legislation including the biometric cards and registration
process is expected to be complete and in place by January 2026 well ahead of the general
elections.
He said the use of biometric data in voter registration is a natural progression from the historical
paper cards that are handwritten with photos taped onto the card.
“In fact,” he said, “This method of voter registration and preparation of voter registration cards
has been criticized internationally. Over the years, international observer missions from the
Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, and other reputable bodies have
monitored our general elections. Their reports have been consistent. While they have
commended the peaceful conduct and credible outcomes of our elections, they have also
expressed serious concerns about the way we manage our electoral process. They have noted,
time and time again, that our current system remains manual, outdated, and prone to error.”
Senator Pinder noted that under the proposed amendments, the Parliamentary Registration
Department shall conduct a verification exercise, requesting all registered voters to visit one of
the Parliamentary Registration Department verification centres to update the register; and
facilitate the issuance and reissuance of biometric voter’s cards. The verification centres will be
situated in strategic locations throughout The Bahamas and shall also be available overseas.
He explained, “The Parliamentary Registration Department will engage in a vigorous public
relations exercise utilizing the print, social and broadcast media to inform voters of the new
system and encourage them to participate in the verification exercise to collect the new card. All
persons seeking to register as a voter for the first time or transfer shall be required to provide the
requisite biometric data. It is proposed that the verification exercise will be conducted every ten
(10) years.”
As was pointed out by the Prime Minister Pinder reminded that approximately 80 percent of
registered voters have an e-passport, which contains the biometric facial photograph and
fingerprints of the passport holder.
As a result the Parliamentary Registration Department is seeking to leverage this fact and has
entered discussions with the Passport Office to have those biometrics transferred into the
Parliamentary Registration Department’s biometric system voters’ card, only in cases where
consent is first given by the voter.
In instances where consent is not provided, the voter will be required to have their photograph
and fingerprints taken by the Parliamentary Registration Department.
“Registered voters who do not take advantage of the opportunity to verify will still be eligible to
vote using their paper voter’s card, or some other sufficient means of identification,” said Pinder.
He also revealed that, “It is proposed that on polling day the Presiding Officer will be issued an
e-poll device which will contain an electronic Polling Division register inclusive of a photograph of every voter on the register. The biometric card will have a bar code and when scanned by the
e-poll device the photo, name, date and place of birth, address, constituency, polling division,
and voter registration number of the voter will appear on the device. As a contingency measure, a
printed copy of the polling division register will also be provided to the Presiding Officer. It
should be noted that actual voting will still be done on the printed ballot paper.”
The Attorney General advised that the Parliamentary Registration Department also took the
opportunity to include other amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act which they believe
will enhance its ability to administer the election process efficiently.
He said, “Increased voter registration and progressive amendments, such as overseas voting,
designed to increase voter participation, have been introduced without any adjustments to
Sections 32 and 35 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which mandates a maximum of 30 days
between the issuance and return of an Election Writ and a 21 to 26-day window to conduct the
election.
“Proposed amendments to Sections 32 and 35 of the Act will provide the Parliamentary
Registration Department adequate time to prepare for the Advanced Poll and General Election
once the Parliament has been dissolved.”
He noted that in the past the Parliamentary Registration Department has been challenged to
facilitate the conduct of elections within the mandated time frame.
In his conclusion Senator Pinder said, “Today we are merely putting into operation the use of
biometric data which the opposition put into law in 2020 when they made their amendments to
the Parliamentary Elections Act. There should be no controversy. Any controversy drummed up
by the other side is attributable to mere politics and reflective in the political posturing as we get
close to election season.”
He reminded that the Parliamentary Registration Department hosted a consultation session with
Parliamentarians, inclusive of the Opposition where a presentation was given, the rational for
what is being implemented was explained and questions were asked and answered.
The Attorney General encouraged the Opposition to put any concerns or suggested amendments
to the legislation in writing noting that debate was delayed in the lower chamber for a week to
give ample opportunity to hear from the Opposition as the government recognizes the
importance of an inclusive nonpolitical approach.
However, he said, “As they usually do the Opposition failed to put anything in writing to me, no
concerns, suggestions or proposed amendments. As such I anticipate their unanimous support
for what we do today.”