A group of non-partisan residents will be observing Anguilla’s upcoming general election in order to provide an impartial account of the voting process.
The Anguilla Independent Citizens Observers (AICO) is independent from the Governor’s Office, the Government of Anguilla, and any other political party or candidate.
Members will be looking at advance polling, voting at polling stations on election day, counting and tallying of votes, and conduct at the Central Electoral Office.
The late Reverend Wycherley Gumbs led the AICO during the last general election in 2020, and produced a final report that July. The team also observed the District 3 by-election in 2022.
A press release from the Governor’s Office on 18 February said it will provide support to the AICO through the provision of an independent consultant.
However, “the functions, findings, observational duties and press statements are not influenced by the Governor’s Office”, the press release added.
Observer’s rules
Governor Julia Crouch has asked Canon Simon Reid to lead the domestic observation, together with nine other non-partisan observers — a responsibility the law assigns to her.
All observers are bound to comply with the ‘Declaration of Global Principles for Non-Partisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations‘.
Each observer has also signed a pledge of non-partisanship that they have no public affiliation with any political party, candidate or agent participating in the 2025 general election.
The observers are not permitted to observe the general election in the district in which they are registered to vote.
The team will publish a preliminary statement on 27 or 28 February after the public declaration of the general election results.
Members will then present a final report to the Governor’s Office which will be made public on 31 March.
General election
General elections in Anguilla are held every five years, with the most recent election taking place in June 2020, when the Anguilla Progressive Movement was elected into office.
On election day, voters can select one candidate from their single-member district and up to four candidates from the islandwide district.
Eleven members of the Anguilla House of Assembly will be elected in total.
The electoral districts are: 1) Island Harbour, 2) Sandy Hill, 3) Valley North, 4) Valley South, 5) Road North, 6) Road South and 7) West End. A detailed map of electoral districts can be accessed here.
Voters must be a citizen of Anguilla, have resided in the territory for a specified period before the election, be at least 18 years old, and be registered on the electoral roll.
Votes will be counted at 8.30pm on 26 February at the House of Assembly building in The Valley.
The candidates in each district with the highest number of votes will be elected along with the four islandwide candidates with the most votes.
The Elections Act can be read in full here.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article provides impartial coverage of political activities in the lead up to the 2025 general election in Anguilla.
It does not constitute an endorsement of any party or candidate.
