abec.gov.ag General Election Nomination Process : Electoral Commission Antigua and Barbuda

Organisation : Electoral Commission
Facility : General Election Nomination Process
Country : Antigua and Barbuda
Website : http://www.abec.gov.ag/election-cycle/general_election.php

ABEC Barbuda Council Elections

The Barbuda Council was established in 1976 by the Barbuda Local Government Act CAP.44. The Council manages the internal affairs on the island.

Related : Electoral Commission Antigua and Barbuda Voter Registration Process : www.electionin.org/2937.html

The Council is an 11-member body consisting of nine directly elected members and two ex-officio members (Barbuda’s House and Senate representatives in the national Parliament) who serve four-year terms.According to Section IV 10(2) of the Barbuda Local Government Act Cap. 44, “The Supervisor of Elections shall have charge of and exercise general supervision over the conduct of elections.”

Elections are held every two years in March with four seats and five seats becoming vacant at alternative polls.

Nomination Day

According to the Barbuda Local Government Act CAP .44, Part IV, Sec. 13(3) “Ten days before the date for an election or by-election the Returning Officer shall attend at ten o’clock in the morning until one o’ clock in the afternoon of the same day at the office of the Council and shall receive the nominations of persons qualified for election as members of the Council.

Each candidate shall be proposed and seconded by at least two duly registered voters.”

The Returning Officer oversees the nomination process and an individual who is nominated must consent to his or her nomination and pay a fee of $50 EC. If elected, he or she will get back the money. The names of the nominated candidates are published in the local newspaper.

Membership of Council

According to the Barbuda Local Government Act CAP. 44. Section 6(1), a person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the Council if
** he is a Commonwealth citizen of the age of eighteen years and upwards; and
** was born in Barbuda, or is the child of parents at least one of whom was born in Barbuda, or has resided in Barbuda for a period of not less than three years immediately before the date of his nomination for election; and
** is not disqualified from being elected a member of the Council; and
** is ordinarily resident in Barbuda, and
** is a registered voter under the Representation of the People Act.

According to the Barbuda Local Government Act CAP. 44. Section 6(2), a person shall be disqualified from being elected as a member of the Council who
** is by virtue of his own act under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state; or
** is an undischarged bankrupt having been so adjudged or declared bankrupt in Antigua and Barbuda; or
** is certified to be insane or otherwise adjudged to be of unsound mind under any law in force in Antigua and Barbuda; or
** is under sentence of death imposed on him by a court or has been sentenced to imprisonment (by whatever name called) for a term of or exceeding twelve months and has not either suffered the punishment to which he was sentenced or such other punishment as may by competent authority have been substituted therefore, or received a free pardon; or
** holds or is acting in any paid office or other place or profit in the gift or disposal of the Council; or
** is disqualified from being elected or being a member of the Council under any provisions of this Act or any other Act relating to corrupt or illegal practices; or
** holds or is acting in any public office; or
** belongs to any of the Armed Forces of the Crown or to the Police Force; or
** subject to any exemptions or limitations prescribed by the Legislature, has any such interest in any such contract with the Council as may be so prescribed; or
** ceases to be a Commonwealth citizen or
** is a minister of religion