Organisation : Electoral Commission
Facility : General Election Nomination Process
Applicable For : 21 years of age or Older
Country : Antigua and Barbuda
Download Form No 3 : https://www.electionin.org/uploads/2951-Form.pdf
Website : http://www.abec.gov.ag/election-cycle/general_election.php
ABEC General Election Nomination Process
Candidates are eligible to be nominated once they are 21 years of age or older. You must be a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda who has been residing in the country for at least one year prior to elections and you must be proficient in the English language.
Related : Electoral Commission Antigua and Barbuda Voting Process : www.electionin.org/2940.html
Nomination Day is set aside for persons desirous of standing as a candidate in the Antigua and Barbuda General Elections.
Once they have satisfied the guidelines of completing the nomination paper and have deposited the requisite $500 EC fee, they are eligible to be nominated as a candidate.
The Returning Officer oversees the nomination process and an individual who is nominated must to consent to his or her nomination in writing. The names of the nominated candidates are printed in the local newspaper.
The date of nomination is specified by the Prime Minister and specific venues where the nominations will be held in each constituency will be announced by ABEC.
General Elections
A General Election is constitutionally due in Antigua and Barbuda every five years but the Prime Minister can hold one sooner if he or she desires. A General Election is held to elect individuals to the seventeen member House of Representatives.
Acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor-General issues a Proclamation to dissolve Parliament. According to Section 61 of the Constitution, a general election shall be held within three months after the dissolution of Parliament.
After Parliament is dissolved, the Governor-General issues a Writ to the Supervisor of Elections as soon as practicable. The Writ includes the date for the nomination of candidates and the date of the General Election.
According to Sec. 24 of ROPA (Amendment) Act, 2001, the Commission shall, not later than 14 days after the issuing of the writ for an election for a constituency, publish in respect of that constituency, a register of electors to be known as a register for elections.
The register for elections must contain the names of all persons included in the Register of Electors published pursuant to section 21 and the revised register published pursuant to section 23.
Election Officers
Returning Officer :
A Returning Officer is in charge of all of the polling stations in a constituency during a General Election and he or she is responsible for the supervision of the Presiding Officer and Poll Clerk. He or she is also expected to carry out his/her duties in a fair and impartial manner.
Presiding Officer :
A Presiding Officer is one of the officers appointed by the Electoral Commission to work in the polling station during a General Election. He or she is expected to carry out his/her duties in a fair and impartial manner.
The Presiding Officer is in charge of a polling station and reports to the Returning Officer. The Presiding Officer is the one who gives out the ballot on election day and also assists persons who need assistance in casting their vote.
Poll Clerk :
A Poll Clerk is one of the officers appointed by the Electoral Commission to assist in the polling station during a General Election. He or she is expected to carry out his/her duties in a fair and impartial manner.
Important Notes :
1. The attention of candidates and electors is draivn to the rules for filling up nomination papers and other provisions relating to nomination contained in the Election Rules in the First Schedule to the Representation of the People Act.
2. Every person guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice will, on conviction, be liable to the penalties imposed by the Representation of the People Act.
3. Electors and their proxies should take note that applications to be treated as an absent voter and other applications and notices about proxy voting must reach the registration officer by the day of next, if they are to be effective for this election.