Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Ryan Pinder rose for the second reading of the Parliamentary Elections Amendment Bill 2025, in the Senate on Wednesday, 13th August. The bill is intended to provide the necessary legislative support to introduce a biometric parliamentary elections register, and corresponding biometric voter’s registration card.
Senator Pinder pointed out, however, that the bill does not extend to the voting process. He said that the process will be the same manual voting on a ballot as usual. He said that the collection and use of biometric data in The Bahamas, and throughout the world is nothing new, and is becoming standard procedure.
“When you obtain a Bahamian passport, the data collected and built into the passport is biometric data, you provide your picture, your fingerprints and any other identifying characteristics. When you fly, your biometric data is collected and utilized, sometimes up to 3 different times,” he said. “ You have your picture taken and sometimes fingerprints taken and verified by US immigration when you leave the country. When you pass through TSA in the US, they now clear you by facial recognition. And, in many instances, when you board the plane in the US you board merely by facial recognition. All of these are examples of the collection and use of your biometric data.”
Further, he noted that biometric data is collected with many day-to-day activities. These, he explained, include opening your phone with facial recognition and opening your computer with your fingerprint. “The use of biometric data has made its way into many facets of our day to day life, there is no reason not to support it in something as sacred as voter registration.”
He also pointed to the need for upgrades to our Registration System, stating that the use of biometric data in voter registration is a natural progression from the historical paper cards that are handwritten with photos taped onto the card. The Attorney General said that the country’s current method of voter registration and preparation of voter registration cards has been criticized internationally.
“Over the years, international observer missions from the Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, and other reputable bodies have monitored our general elections. Their reports have been consistent. While they have commended the peaceful conduct and credible outcomes of our elections, they have also expressed serious concerns about the way we manage our electoral process.
He also noted that the Opposition has historically been in agreement with that consensus.
He said that the Parliamentary Registration Department has engaged Canadian Bank Note to develop a biometric voter’s card and, simultaneously, a digital voter registration solution.
Canadian Bank Note, he said, is the same company that manages the biometric passports. He said that, therefore, the same vendor will be dealing with the sensitive biometric data of the citizens of the country. “The biometrics to be captured are a digital facial photograph, fingerprints and the voter’s digital signature.
“Another feature of the proposed system is to have the geographical coordinates of the address of every voter to ensure accuracy,” Mr. Pinder said.
Under the proposed amendments, he said the Parliamentary Registration Department will conduct a verification exercise, requesting all registered voters to visit one of the Parliamentary Registration Department verification centres to update the register; and facilitate the issuance and reissuance of biometric voter’s cards.
“The verification centres will be situated in strategic locations throughout The Bahamas and shall also be available overseas to facilitate both registration under Section 15A of the Act, or in an effort to verify voters, as anticipated by the inclusion of the new Section 14B of the draft Bill.
“The Parliamentary Registration Department will engage in a vigorous public relations exercise utilizing the print, social and broadcast media to inform voters of the new system and encourage them to participate in the verification exercise to collect the new card. Further, all persons seeking to register as a voter for the first time under Section 19 of the Act or transfer pursuant to Section 13(3) of the Act shall be required to provide the requisite biometric data. It is proposed that the verification exercise will be conducted every ten (10) years.
“The Parliamentary Registration Department may still avail itself of the existing Enumeration powers under Section 16 of the Act, as well as the Revision of Register powers under Section 22 of the Act. The combination of these proposed features will greatly assist the Parliamentary Registration Department in maintaining an uncompromised voter register,” said Mr. Pinder.
He said the Parliamentary Registration Department will be able to implement the biometric card and digital registration system in January 2026.
“It is important to note that approximately 80% of registered voters have an e-passport, which contains the biometric facial photograph and fingerprints of the passport holder,” he said. “Consequently, the Parliamentary Registration Department is seeking to leverage this fact and has entered discussions with the Passport Office to have those biometrics transferred into the Parliamentary Registration Department’s biometric system voters’ card, only in cases where consent is first given by the voter. In instances where consent is not provided, the voter will be required to have their photograph and fingerprints taken by the Parliamentary Registration Department.”
“Colleagues should note that registered voters who do not take advantage of the opportunity to verify will still be eligible to vote using their paper voter’s card, or some other sufficient means of identification as provided for in Section 57(1) of the Act,” he said.
He said “it is also proposed that on polling day the Presiding Officer will be issued an e-poll device which will contain an electronic Polling Division register inclusive of a photograph of every voter on the register: The biometric card will have a bar code and when scanned by the e-poll device the photo, name, date and place of birth, address, constituency, polling division, and voter registration number of the voter will appear on the device. As a contingency measure, a printed copy of the polling division register will also be provided to the Presiding Officer. It should be noted that actual voting will still be done on the printed ballot paper,” said Mr. Pinder.
He said the Parliamentary Registration Department has also taken the opportunity to include other amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act which will enhance its ability to administer the election process efficiently. “Increased voter registration and progressive amendments, such as overseas voting, designed to increase voter participation, have been introduced without any adjustments to Sections 32 and 35 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which mandates a maximum of 30 days between the issuance and return of an Election Writ and a 21 to 26-day window to conduct the election.
“Proposed amendments to Sections 32 and 35 of the Act will provide the Parliamentary Registration Department adequate time to prepare for the Advanced Poll and General Election once the Parliament has been dissolved. Consequently, the Parliamentary Registration Department has been challenged to facilitate the conduct of elections within the mandated time frame,” he said.
He said the legal framework for general election timelines are mandated by Article 67 of the Constitution and Sections 32 and 35 of the Parliamentary Elections Act which read as follows:
67. “(1) After every dissolution of Parliament the Governor-General shall issue writs for a general election of members of the House of Assembly returnable within ninety days from that dissolution.”
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ACT
32. “General Elections.
“As soon as practicable after the issue of the proclamation summarizing a new House of Assembly there shall be issued the writ of election bearing the same date and except where a poll is countermanded in accordance with the provisions of this Act, there shall not be less than twenty-one nor more than thirty days between the issue and return of the writ”.
35 (2)
“Nomination day of any election shall not be earlier than the fifth day, and not later than the tenth day, after the day on which public notice of the election is given.”
Sundays and public holidays are not included when factoring in available days under the mandated timeframes.
“To support credible elections conducted within a dynamic environment, the Parliamentary Registration Department recommends that Section 32 of the Parliamentary Elections Act be amended and extended by five (5) days to read ‘there shall not be less than 26 nor more than 35 days between the issue and return of the writ’; and that Section 35 (2) be amended to read ‘Nomination day of any election shall not be earlier than the fifth day, and not later than the eighth day, after the day on which public notice of the election is given'”.
He said the proposed amendments do not violate Article 67 of the Constitution, as they both remain within the 90-day constitutional ceiling. He concluded by saying that this bill was in alignment with the Opposition’s previous efforts.
“Today we are merely putting into operation the use of biometric data which the Opposition put into law in 2020 when they made their amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act.”
