WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT REGISTRATION

Qualification for Registration as a Voter

A person seeking to be registered should:

• Have attained the age of eighteen (18) years or upwards on the date on which he applies to be registered as a voter.

• Be a citizen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; or Be a Commonwealth Citizen who has been residing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a period of not less than twelve months preceding the date on which he applies to be registered as a voter.

• Have lived in a constituency for a period of not less than six months immediately preceding the date on which he/she applies to be registered as a voter.
  
  

WHERE SHOULD ONE GO TO GET REGISTERED

• At the registration centre set up by the Electoral Office in the respective Constituency.

• At the Electoral Office in Kingstown (emergency only)
  
  

THE RIGHT TO REMAIN REGISTERED AS A VOTER

Every person registered as a voter shall remain registered unless and until his/her name is deleted from the register because:

• He/she has died

• An objection to his/her registration has been allowed by the Registering Officer/Supervisor of  Elections.

• He/She has been absent from St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a period exceeding five (5) years -  except in cases of absence   for approved studies abroad.
• He/She is found or declared to be a person of unsound mind or a patient in any establishment  maintained wholly or mainly for the reception and treatment of people suffering from mental  illness.
• Is undergoing any sentence of imprisonment in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
• Is under sentence of death imposed on him by a competent court in any part of the Commonwealth or  under sentence of imprisonment exceeding 12 months.

VOTER REGISTRATION IN ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

For the purpose of election of Representatives St. Vincent and the Grenadines is divided into fifteen (15) constituencies. The boundaries of the constituencies are prescribed by order made by the Constituency Boundaries Commission. Registering Officers are appointed by the Governor General and one is assigned to each constituency for the purpose of carrying out the process of registration of voters.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR REGISTRATION AS A VOTER

FOR VINCENTIANS (by birth)

1. Original copy of Birth certificate
2. NIS card (optional)
3. Original copy of Marriage certificate (if female and married)
   
   

FOR VINCENTIANS (by descent)

1. Original copy of Birth certificate
2. Original copy of Birth certificate for the parent who is Vincentian by birth
3. Original copy of Marriage certificate (if female and married)
4. NIS card (optional)

FOR VINCENTIANS (by naturalization)

1. Original copy of Birth certificate
2. Original copy of Marriage certificate (if female and married)
3. Citizenship certificate
4. NIS card (optional)

FOR COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS

• Original copy of Birth certificate
• Original copy of Marriage certificate (if female and married)
• Passport/Travel document used to enter St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• NIS card (optional)

NB: When a person gets registered his/her name is added to the voter's list and a national identification card is issued to the person.  If at any  the identification card is issued to the person. If at any time the identification card is stolen, lost, burnt or misplaced, the person should report it to the Registering Officer in his/her constituency or report to then Office in Kingstown.  A reprint of the ID card will be made and  issued six (6 months after the report was received.  A temporary ID card would be issued for this period of six (6) months.

REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSFER TO ANOTHER CONSTITUENCY

A person requesting a change of residence must be living in the constituency in which he/she wishes to be registered for at least six (6) months on the date on which the person applies for the transfer.  The Registering Officer may request proof of residence.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR A CHANGE OF NAME

The person requesting a change of name must present to the officer the original documents to proof that his/her name is different from that which appears on the voters’ list.
Such documents include:

• Deed Poll
• Affidavit
• Passport
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Divorce papers

NB. When a request for a change of name or transfer has been granted, the registrant must  surrender the identification Card(s) which he/she  has been previously issued.