Passport Data to Power New Voter ID System, Says PM Davis

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

The Bahamas, August 8, 2025 – In the most technically revealing portion of his parliamentary address last week, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis confirmed that biometric data already held by the Bahamas Passport Office will form the backbone of the country’s new voter verification system.  The move, according to Davis, is designed to make the process “efficient” and “privacy-conscious,” sparing most voters the burden of resubmitting fingerprints or facial scans.

“Approximately 80 percent of Bahamian voters already have biometric data on file with the Passport Office,” said Davis.  “This legislation allows those voters to consent to a secure data transfer, eliminating the need for repeat biometric capture.”

The Prime Minister’s defense of the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill 2025 was equal parts historical reflection and technical pitch.  But his reassurance about the passport-based rollout offers insight into how his government expects to implement the sweeping reforms without mass confusion or disenfranchisement ahead of the next general election.

The Bill proposes a series of reforms:

• A new biometric voter card, valid for 10 years.
• A mandatory national voter verification exercise once every decade.
• Use of electronic poll books at voting stations.
• Legal safeguards ensuring voters who can’t verify biometrically can still vote through alternate means.

Davis was adamant: this is not electronic voting.  Ballots will still be cast and counted manually. The reform is limited to voter registration and verification.

Framed by History, Delivered with Urgency

Davis invoked Bahamian history to position the Bill as a continuation of democratic progress—from women’s suffrage in 1962 to the introduction of the secret ballot in 1942.

“The right to vote in The Bahamas has never been static,” he said.  “It has been expanded, protected, and improved over time.”                                                                                                                                                             He also emphasized that the foundation for biometric voter ID was laid by the former FNM administration in 2020, though it was never implemented.  Davis argued that his government is simply completing unfinished business, but this time with transparency, consultation, and public education.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       But Public Suspicion Lingers

Yet, outside the halls of Parliament, trust remains fragile.

Davis’s push for electoral reform comes amid mounting accusations from the Opposition and some sectors of civil society.  They allege that his administration is padding the voter register by adding newly and clandestinely regularized migrants—individuals granted legal status under the radar and potentially poised to vote in the next election.

Critics argue that the combination of biometric reforms and recent immigration trends could be politically motivated, especially with the Coalition of Independents (COI) gaining serious ground and reshaping what was once a two-party race.

While Davis didn’t address those concerns directly, he made clear that every eligible Bahamian will still be able to vote, regardless of whether they hold a biometric card.

“Biometric cards are optional,” he said. “They are a tool, not a barrier.”

Still, with general elections looming—and talk of an early call in the air—the pressure is on. Davis is asking Parliament to approve a bill that could redefine the electoral landscape.  Whether voters believe the changes are about modernization or manipulation may very well shape the outcome of the next election.