It’s been a little over a year since the Antigua Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) launched the Expired Voters ID card program and while progress has been made, Public Relations Officer Elisa Graham is encouraging others to replace their cards.

To date, 17,050 have applied and had their cards replaced.

“If you are yet to replace the expired voters’ ID card, we do not know when the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda will call an electoral process. We do not know when an electoral process will necessitate to be held in any particular constituency for any particular reason. So, please ensure that you have your voters’ ID card replaced and up to date.

“We also know that a lot of institutions rely on the voters’ ID card as a primary form of ID. So as much as possible, we normally find persons who are coming in at the last-minute begging us to fast-track the process because they need their card for some form of business. No, it does not work that way. It has to go through a process. So, the quicker you get it done and you keep it in a safe place, the better for you,” Graham said.

For St. John’s City West, St. John’s Rural West and St. John’s Rural South, 30% of cards have been replaced.

In St. John’s City East, it is 27% while in St. John’s City South, St. John’s Rural East and St. Mary’s North 29% cards have been replaced.

For St. John’s Rural North, 31% have been completed while in St. Mary’s South and St. Paul, 37% and All Saints East and St. Luke, 33%.

For St, George, 36% have been replaced while for St. Peter, and Barbuda that figure is at 77% and 72% respectively, the highest of all the 17 constituencies.

For St. Philip North, that figure is at 42% and St. Phillip South 35%.

There was no information provided for All Saints West.

The Expired Voter’s ID Card Replacement Programme began on August 12th 2024 in all 17 constituencies.

As part of the process, eligible voters are asked to walk with their expired Voter’s ID card, a valid government issued ID, a proof of address and any documents updating their marital status.

Cards will be updated with a new photo, signature, validated with fingerprints and will be available from the same Registration Unit within three weeks of an application.

“Now, your proof of address could be a letter from your landlord or landlady, a bank statement, even your driver’s license can act as a proof of address as well.

“Along with that as well, you are encouraged if you are married or you recently divorced to walk along with your respective documentation so that your card can be adequately updated.

“Additionally, as well, for persons who would have applied for a transfer recently or who would have moved from one constituency to the next for over six months, we encourage persons to apply for their transfers prior to applying for your expired voters’ ID card because by the time you finish with your transfer, then of course your address would have changed. So, when you apply for your expired voters’ ID card, all of that updated information will be placed on your card,” Graham explained.