Cayman’s Elections Office has extended the voter registration deadline from 1 Jan. 2025 by two weeks, giving eligible, unregistered individuals more time to get on the electors roll for the April 2025 general election.
“We believe in the importance of every eligible citizen having the opportunity to vote and make their voice heard in this critical democratic process,” Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell said in a 14 Nov. statement announcing the change.
The extension to 15 Jan., the statement said, aims to provide “eligible but unregistered Caymanians with ample opportunity to exercise their democratic right” and participate in shaping the future of the Cayman Islands.
The Elections Office encouraged all unregistered Caymanians to take advantage of this additional time to ensure they can vote in the upcoming election.
The electors roll that will be used for the general election will become official on 1 April.
As of 1 Oct., 23,529 electors were registered to vote.
This week, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture hosted a voter registration drive at the University College of the Cayman Islands encouraging students to sign up to vote.
With the average age of voters at 53, the pressure is on to get young Caymanians involved in the electoral process.
Cayman’s general election has been set for 30 April.
In addition to voting for Members of Parliament, electors were expected to have their say on a referendum featuring questions on cruise berthing, a national lottery and decriminalising small amounts of marijuana.
Whether the referendum proceeds remains to be seen as it will need the support of a now much larger opposition in Parliament to be carried forward.
The election date was announced earlier this month as Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly named her newly reshuffled Cabinet, which allow her diminished administration to function for the next six months following the resignations of four of her government members, including her then deputy premier, André Ebanks.
Ebanks, along with Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Health Minister Sabrina Turner and Parliamentary Secretary Heather Bodden, parted ways with United People’s Movement administration, citing conflicts, dysfunction and disorganisation as among the reasons for their exit.
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has taken over the deputy premier role, and O’Connor-Connolly added health and financial services to her already extensive list of responsibilities.
Eligible voters can register on the Elections Office website, using the online Form 4.
Those who are unsure of their current registration status, or who need to update their personal information can visit the Elections Office website, email [email protected], or call 949-8047.
Qualifications of Electors
Must be Caymanian
Must have attained the age of 18 years
Must be resident in the Cayman Islands at the date of registration
Has been resident in the Cayman Islands for a period or periods amounting to not less than two years out of the four years immediately preceding the date of registration
On the day of the issue of a writ ordering an election, he or she is otherwise qualified under paragraph (b) but has not attained the age of 18, but he or she will attain that age on or before the polling day at the election
Documents required to register to vote:
Birth certificate of applicant and
Caymanian Status Certificate/Acknowledgement letter from WORC/Immigration and
Photo ID: Passport or driver’s licence
Birth certificate of one of the applicant’s parents or grandparents if born in Cayman
Related Videos
