By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunmedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he wants The Bahamas to move towards a system where voter registration is mandatory for all citizens, even though choosing to vote would remain a personal decision.

Mr Davis, speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday, acknowledged that some Bahamians, including members of certain religious communities, choose not to register, adding: “That is their right.”

However, he stressed that registration is essential to participate in elections and urged greater civic engagement.

“Hopefully, as we move on in improving our electoral system, we may reach the point where every Bahamian citizen is required… to register, and always automatically registered. And whether they exercise that right will then be their choice,” Mr Davis said.

His comments came as he opened debate on the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill 2025.

The legislation sets the stage for sweeping electoral reforms, including optional biometric voter ID cards featuring digital fingerprints, facial recognition, and electronic signatures.

While contributing to the debate, Mr Davis said international election observer missions – including those from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth – have consistently praised the credibility of Bahamian elections but also highlighted systemic weaknesses.

He pointed to the current voter registration system as outdated and vulnerable to errors.

He also noted concerns about laminated paper voter cards, which are easy to duplicate, forge, or lose.

Holding up two such cards with taped-on photos as examples, Mr Davis said there have been cases where inaccurate voter data caused confusion at polling stations and, in some instances, led to citizens being turned away.

He noted that observer reports from the 2012, 2017, and 2021 general elections all recommended transitioning to electronic registration and biometric identification.

Mr Davis also said many Bahamians are frustrated with the manual registration process and long lines, and that growing public support exists for change.

He stressed, however, that the bill does not introduce online or electronic voting.

“This legislation does not introduce online voting nor does it introduce digital ballots, or any form of voting by electronic device,” Mr Davis said. “The process of casting and counting votes remains entirely manual. What we are modernising is how we register voters, how we verify identity, and how we protect the integrity of the roll.”

“Biometric voter cards and electronic poll books are tools to strengthen the front end of the electoral process, not to alter how votes are cast or tabulated. The ballot box remains at the centre of our democracy. This reform ensures that the names on the register are accurate, the credentials secure, and the process credible.”

Mr Davis pointed out that the biometric voter ID is not a new concept.

In December 2020, the Minnis administration passed amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act that provided for biometric voter cards and the creation of a continuous register.

Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told reporters last week that he supports biometric registration.

However, other Free National Movement MPs, including Kwasi Thompson and deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright, have raised concerns.

Mr Cartwright has questioned the need for biometric cards and the potential cybersecurity risks.

Mr Davis told Parliament yesterday that the door remains open for further dialogue.

Canadian Bank Note (CBN), a company that has previously worked with the government on passports and other secure documents, will assist the Parliamentary Registration Department in producing the biometric voter cards.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe confirmed CBN’s involvement.

“In my contribution, I thought it was clear that a policy decision was made. That you don’t want Bahamians private data all over the place, sensitive data, and that drove the decision-making, inclusive of the reputation and delivery by Canadian Bank Note,” Mr Munroe said.