Long-promised campaign finance rules, new voting methods and transparency measures are among the wide-ranging election reforms that could be on the way under a bill recently introduced in the House of Assembly.
Elections Supervisor Carlene Herbert said the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — which was Gazetted Sept. 18 after being read for the first time in the House of Assembly — seeks to bring the territory in line with modern and efficient operations standards.
She added that the 98-page bill would increase transparency and accountability for registered political parties and “strengthen the systems that ensure we administer free and fair elections” in the territory.
“From inclusions that range from the introduction of new voting methods that increase accessibility; the establishment of an Elections Advisory Committee; amendments to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates; and strong guidelines around campaign financing, this bill puts us in better positioning for a sustainable future,” Ms. Herbert said.
The bill would also require all parties and individuals seeking to contest elections to be officially registered.
Additionally, it would provide guidance on donations — including listing permissible and prohibited contributions — and mandate the maintenance of a Register of Donations that would include the names and addresses of donors.
The bill also proposes that the Office of the Supervisor of Elections be transitioned from a unit within the Office of the Deputy Governor to a separate agency rebranded as the Department of Elections.
Ms. Herbert encouraged residents to review the bill before its second reading and to follow the Deputy Governor’s Office, which is planning an extensive educational campaign about the proposed changes.
