The Elections Office has kicked off preparations early for Cayman’s polls, set for next April, due to increased demand for ballot-related materials with a number of regional general elections set for later this year and into 2025.
Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell told the Cayman Compass his team has already begun planning for local polls before the rush of looming elections in the US, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago hits suppliers.
“This year is a bumper year for elections throughout the US and a lot in the Caribbean so the materials that we use tend to be quite constrained during that period of time. We’re now… getting those orders out,” Howell said.
Planning begins
Howell said the Elections Office has started high-level meetings in relation to getting logistical supplies ordered before year’s end.
At present, he said, the Elections Office is working with a 16 April 2025 date for local polls, based on the 2021 election date.
While that date is subject to change based on the premier’s direction, Howell said there has not been any indication of an early poll.
“We’re still proceeding on the basis that we’re going in April [2025] and that’s where our plan is, but of course we do [maintain] some readiness” ahead of that date, Howell said.
“So if we have to go early it’ll be a rush, but we’ll be able to make that.”
He said based on the proposed timeline, writs will be issued on 11 Dec. and Parliament will be dissolved on 16 Feb. 2025.
Nomination Day is projected for 28 Feb. 2025.
Howell said the Elections Office budget for 2024-2025 was approved in December so for financing, “we are good to go”.
He said the office is discussing plans to ramp up staff and training.
“Our office now will grow from… three staff members up to about 500 and then we’ll also have police officers and other people who are assisting us with the general election,” he said.
Fewer registered voters than in 2021
When it comes to the register of electors, Howell said the numbers have decreased from the 23,609 voters in 2021 to 23,495 at the moment.
“The registering officers have been busily at work taking off persons who are no longer qualified,” he said, explaining that would include those who are deceased, who have moved away and therefore are no longer residents, or have been declared mentally unfit to vote.
Voter registration, he said, has also been slow.
He said it is quite typical for the Elections Office not to see as many people registering during this time, “but as soon as we can turn that corner towards the second half of this year, then I would expect to see that number increase.”
The last day for registering to vote in the next general election is mid-January 2025.
While this is some time away, Howell is asking voters to get registered before that date to prevent any potential rush.
To register to vote, applicants will have to fill out a form and submit documents, including proof of Caymanian status.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect the correct date of the projected 2025 general election.
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