Voter ID Replacement Programme Tops 31,900 Applications Nationwide

The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission has reported steady progress in its ongoing voter identification card replacement programme, with more than 31,900 applications processed to date, according to Antigua News Room.

The Commission's latest official report for April 2026 shows that 8,558 replacement applications were completed during the month alone, bringing the cumulative total to 31,909. For the week of 19–25 April, officials recorded 1,606 applications processed alongside 178 new applications.

Completion rates vary considerably across constituencies. St Peter leads the nation with 92% of its eligible applicants processed. St Philip North follows at 76%, with St Philip South at 73% and All Saints West at 71%.

Several constituencies continue to lag, with St John's City West, St John's Rural West, and St Mary's North hovering near the 60% mark. The lowest completion rates reported — 60% — were recorded in both St John's Rural South and St Mary's North.

Within the 19–25 April window, daily processing volumes declined after an early-week peak. The highest single-day total came on 20 April, when 393 applications were processed. That figure dropped to 335 on 21 April before tapering sharply to 73 applications by 25 April.

Despite the slowdown in daily volumes, officials noted consistent engagement across most of the island's constituencies. St John's Rural West posted the highest weekly total at 168 applications, followed by St George with 165 and St Mary's North with 153.

Barbuda, the smallest constituency, recorded 19 applications for the week and maintains a relatively strong overall completion rate of 79%.

The Commission is urging all eligible voters who have not yet replaced their identification cards to do so promptly, noting that several constituencies remain below a two-thirds completion threshold. Officials have not announced a deadline for the programme but confirmed that outreach efforts will be intensified in lower-performing areas.

Authorities say the replacement programme is critical to maintaining an accurate and secure electoral register ahead of future elections, and they expect to close remaining gaps in the coming weeks.