ROSEAU, DOMINICA 8th October 2026 — The Dominica Business Forum Inc. (DBF) expresses grave concern over what appears to be a deliberate effort by authorities to deprive legitimate Dominican voters of their constitutional right to vote through the premature termination of the electoral confirmation process.
Following nearly two decades of advocacy that culminated in the passage of revised electoral legislation on March 19, 2025, the Electoral Commission was tasked with cleaning the existing list of 73,305 voters—a list widely acknowledged as bloated relative to Dominica’s population of under 70,000 and average historical voter turnouts of approximately 40,000. Under the law, the Electoral Commission was given a 12-month timeline, with the clear provision for a three-month extension, to complete this vital confirmation process.
With the initial October 14 deadline just days away, the Commission has confirmed only 25,126 voters, leaving roughly 47,527 unconfirmed (September 30th). This failure threatens to leave the citizens of Dominica in a worse position than before the reforms—moving from a system where all listed voters were eligible to one where thousands of legitimate voters are actively disenfranchised.
The DBF notes with deep concern the systemic hurdles and opposition encountered during this process:
-
Electoral Mismanagement: The Commission demonstrated severe operational shortcomings, most notably during the Roseau North By-Election on September 7, when voting rules were altered in the middle of an active election.
-
Refusal of Dialogue: The President of the Commonwealth of Dominica has declined to meet with the DBF prior to the deadline, while the Chairman of the Electoral Commission has continually ignored requests for consultation.
-
Media Restriction: State media (DBS Radio) has refused paid programming aimed at raising public awareness and advocating for the legally available extension.
-
Executive Opposition: The Prime Minister has publicly stated his refusal to support any extension to the confirmation timeline.
This refusal to grant the three-month extension—which would push the deadline to January 15, 2027—disproportionately impacts Dominicans living abroad.
Many overseas citizens planned to complete their confirmation during upcoming visits for Independence celebrations or the Christmas holiday season.
Furthermore, forcing unconfirmed citizens onto the new registration process is not an equivalent remedy, as new registration requires three months of continuous local residence in a polling district, unlike immediate confirmation for existing voters.
The DBF maintains that based on historical election data, the target threshold for a credible list must reflect the average of 40,000 active voters. Terminating the process at 25,600 confirmed voters unnecessarily strips thousands of valid citizens—including young adults who recently turned 18 and registered after the last general election—of their fundamental rights.
Our Call to Action:
-
To the Electoral Commission and the President of Dominica: We call for the immediate use of the legally authorized three-month extension to 15 January 2027, giving every legitimate voter a fair opportunity to be confirmed. If the extension is denied, the Electoral Commission must promptly inform the public so eligible voters can make arrangements to confirm. Withholding a decision until the final day of the confirmation period would be unacceptable.
-
To Eligible Voters: We urge all voters registered on the 2025 list who remain unconfirmed to complete the process by the 14 October deadline. Those unable to do so should submit written requests directly to the Electoral Commission for an extension that protects their right to vote.
Universal adult suffrage was won through the sweat and blood of our ancestors. The Dominica Business Forum Inc. stands firm against any attempt to erode this democratic legacy and remains committed to protecting the voice of every Dominican citizen.
Meanwhile, the Dominica Business Forum Inc. will continue seeking meetings with the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission before the 14 October 2026 deadline.
The Dominica Business Forum Inc. is a legally registered non-governmental organization in the Commonwealth of Dominica and is not affiliated with any political party. As Sir Dennis Byron noted in his acknowledgments, it is the only private-sector organization on record as having facilitated public discussion during the campaign for electoral reform.
