Nearly half of the approximately 40,000 Antiguans and Barbudans expected to replace their voter identification cards have still not done so, according to Antigua.news. With completion rates alarmingly low in some of the island's most populated constituencies, the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission faces a significant challenge in closing that gap.
The Commission's own figures show that of the roughly 40,000 people required to replace their cards, only 19,567 applications have been recorded to date — meaning an estimated 20,000 residents have yet to come forward. That amounts to nearly one in every two people who should have already begun the process.
The replacement drive launched in August 2024, when the Electoral Commission opened the process to all individuals holding expired voter ID cards and invited them to visit registration units in their respective constituencies. Residents were asked to bring their expired card, a valid government-issued ID, proof of address, and any documents reflecting changes to their marital status. More than a year and a half later, tens of thousands have still not responded to that call.
Of the 19,567 applications recorded so far, 18,320 were carried over from 2025. A further 1,247 have been added in the early months of 2026, with March contributing 384 applications to date. However, weekly figures suggest momentum is fading rather than growing — 212 applications were recorded in the first week of the month, falling to 129 in the second week and just 43 in the third.
As reported by Antigua.news, the Electoral Commission is urging residents who have not yet replaced their cards to visit their constituency registration unit as soon as possible with the required documents.
