News
The Electoral Boundaries Commission invites public to submit comments on draft report
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 25 June 2024: The Electoral Boundaries Commission has released a report that provides crucial insights into the voter population in the electoral districts across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The commission, in its commitment to democratic processes, earnestly invites the public to participate actively by submitting their valuable comments on our draft report before 12 p.m. Friday, 5 July 2024.
Section 60 states: “60. For the purpose of the discharge of its functions, a Commission—
(a) may invite views from members of the public;
(b) shall consult the public about a draft of its report; and
(c) may seek such advice as it considers appropriate.
The Electoral Boundaries Commission has completed the draft report and, as per Section 60 (6), seeks to send it to the public for
The Commission’s activities and responsibilities are set out in Section 61 of the Constitution, which provides:
- (1) A Commission shall, as soon as practicable after its appointment, review the Boundaries of the electoral districts into which the Islands are divided; and submit to the Governor and the House of Assembly a report either—
(a) stating that, in the opinion of the Commission, no change in those boundaries is required; or
(b) recommending the changes in those boundaries specified in the report.
(2) In determining its recommendations under subsection (1) (b), and in determining whether or not to recommend any changes in the electoral district boundaries, a Commission shall ensure that the electoral districts contain, so far as is reasonably practicable, approximately equal numbers of persons qualified to be registered as electors.
Summary of the Report
As a first simplistic estimation, the total voter population of 9381 was divided by ten, representing the ten electoral districts. That resulted in the target quota of 938 voters (“target quota”) for each electoral district.
The overall trend saw increased voter population data in Providenciales and Grand Turk, with a minimum population increase in South Caicos, North and Middle Caicos. The increase in voter population in Providenciales is noted in all districts.
Because of the disproportionate growth of voters in these areas the Commission is of the opinion that a more equal distribution can only be achieved by significant adjustments of the boundaries and these can only be effected in certain contiguous districts. However, the technical professionals in the Crown Land and Surveying Departments have advised the Commission of the danger of arbitrarily adjusting the boundaries, as the maps do indicate where few electors may live in a large geographic area, while smaller areas may contain large numbers of electors. The Commission understands that this can only be obtained through a RE-REGISTRATION process, in which all voters will re-register.
The Commission, therefore, agreed that, except for Grand Turk, all electoral boundaries in Providenciales should remain the same until information is available to determine the number of electors on the ground.
Therefore, the Commission will visit all islands in the Turks and Caicos Islands during the week of July 8th to 12th, 2024, to consult the public on the report’s findings.
All submissions must be sent via email to williamsjuliae@gmail.com
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