The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) has announced a temporary closure of all Registration Units and its Headquarters from Tuesday, May 5 through Friday, May 8, 2026. According to Antigua News Room, normal operations will resume on Monday, May 11, 2026.
The Commission acknowledged that the decision carries weight under its statutory obligations. The Representation of the People Act requires continuous availability of registration services to the public throughout the year — a commitment ABEC says it remains firmly dedicated to upholding.
However, the Commission cited an equally pressing institutional responsibility: the welfare and operational readiness of its workforce. In the lead-up to and during the recent electoral cycle, ABEC staff at both Headquarters and Registration Units across the country worked under exceptional conditions.
Those conditions included extended shifts exceeding 16-hour workdays without adequate rest, continuous 24-hour operations at Headquarters in the critical days before the election, and uninterrupted delivery of voter registration, renewal, and card distribution services under intense operational pressure.
The Commission credited these efforts with contributing materially to an electoral process widely regarded as efficient, orderly, and incident-free.
ABEC described the four-day closure as a strictly administrative measure, taken in recognition of the extraordinary demands recently placed on the institution and its personnel. The Commission stressed that the closure is not intended to undermine its ongoing commitment to accessibility or compliance with the Representation of the People Act.
The Commission extended its appreciation to citizens and residents for their understanding, and offered what it called its "profound appreciation" to staff for their service in the advancement of democracy.
The announcement was dated May 2, 2026.
