A record 25,643 people are now registered to vote in Cayman, meaning more people are eligible to cast their ballots in the 30 April general election than ever in the islands’ history.
The updated official register of electors was finalised and published on Tuesday, 1 April, with the latest authorised list of voters. It showed that 2,034 more voters are eligible to go to the polls than in the 2021 election.
In 2021, 23,609 people were registered to vote in Cayman, though on polling day, 14 April, that year, more than a quarter of registered electors chose not to vote.
Since 2021, when the last census showed 71,432 people living in Cayman, the islands’ population has grown considerably. The latest data released by the government’s Economics and Statistics Office indicate that the population stands at 87,866.
A statement from the Elections Office on the latest numbers said, “The growing electorate reflects the continued commitment to civic participation, and the Elections Office is dedicated to ensuring every eligible voter is ready to have their say in the electoral process that will take place later this month.”
On 30 April, voters will not only be electing who will represent them in their respective constituencies, but they will also be voting on three separate referendums: One to determine if Cayman should have cruise pier infrastructure, another on whether possession of small quantities of marijuana should be decriminalised, and a third to decide if the country should have a national lottery.
Supervisor of Elections Wesley Howell said in the statement, “We are thrilled to see such a remarkable increase in the number of registered electors, we are working hard to ensure that every eligible voter has the information and resources they need to cast their ballot confidently. We encourage voters to plan ahead, be informed, and use the available voting options to ensure their voices are heard.”
The largest voting district in Cayman is West Bay South, with 1,773 registered electors, just ahead of Bodden Town East with 1,760 electors. The smallest voting constituency is Cayman Brac East, with 521 voters.
The Elections Office is urging all eligible voters to collect their voter ID cards as soon as possible. Those who registered by the 15 Jan. 2025 deadline, changed their name or moved to a different electoral district, must ensure they have an updated voter ID card, it said. A voter ID, or another form of photo identification, will be required to participate in the election.
The office also noted that the deadline to apply for mobile and postal voting is Thursday, 17 April. These options are available for voters who may be travelling outside the Cayman Islands, unable to attend a polling station on Election and Referendum Day, or who require alternative voting arrangements.
Voters who may have difficulty reaching a polling station are encouraged to apply for mobile voting before the deadline to ensure they can cast their ballot with ease. If unable to mark their ballot personally, voters can be assisted once they instruct the presiding officer on how the ballot should be marked on their behalf.
For more details on voter ID collection, mobile and postal voting applications, and other election-related information, visit the Elections Office website, email [email protected], or call 949-8047.
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