The Bahamas is preparing to overhaul its voter registration system with the introduction of biometric voter ID cards and a mandatory national voter verification exercise every ten years. The changes are outlined in the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill 2025, which Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis presented to Parliament this week. The bill replaces permanent voter cards with secure biometric credentials while leaving the country’s manual voting process unchanged.
Under the legislation, new 10-year biometric voter ID cards will be issued, following the format used for Bahamian driver’s licenses and National Insurance Board cards. Davis said about 80 percent of Bahamian voters already have biometric data stored with the Passport Office. With voter consent, this information can be transferred securely to streamline the rollout of the new cards.
National Verification Every Decade
The reforms establish a ten-year cycle for in-person voter verification through new Section 14B of the bill. Voters will be required to confirm or update their personal and biometric information and receive new cards when necessary. The process will be overseen by the Parliamentary Commissioner, with penalties for making false declarations.
Prime Minister Davis stressed that the changes focus solely on registration and identity verification, not voting technology. “This legislation does not introduce online voting, digital ballots, or any form of voting by electronic device. The process of casting and counting votes remains entirely manual,” he said. Davis also noted that the reforms build on provisions enacted under a previous administration in 2020.
Security, Privacy, and Public Debate
Government officials say the biometric credentials will enhance electoral integrity without restricting access to the ballot. Opposition Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright has called for more public discussion, citing the need for clarity on how personal data will be accessed and protected. The government maintains that consent will be required for the transfer of biometric data from the Passport Office and that the cards will remain optional.
The bill reflects a wider regional interest in electoral modernization, with Davis referencing examples from countries such as Guyana, Ghana, and Nigeria during the debate. He also suggested that The Bahamas may one day make voter registration mandatory while keeping the act of voting voluntary. “Hopefully, as we move on in improving our electoral system, we may reach the point where every Bahamian citizen is required to register,” he told Parliament.
Sources: Caribbean National Weekly, Tribune24,, ZNS Bahamas
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By Ji-seo Kim
