ABEC Issues General Elections Media Guidelines 2026

In the matter of the Representation of the People Act Cap 379 of the Revised Edition 1992 of the laws of Antigua and Barbuda

And

In the matter of the provision for the making of Rules by the Electoral Commission pursuant to section 36 (1) of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act #17 of 2001:

1.⁠ ⁠No Radio and Television Station operating in Antigua and Barbuda shall prevent or cause to prevent any Political Party or a Candidate nominated to run at the General Elections scheduled to take place on April 30th 2026 from broadcasting information necessary to promote the Candidacy of that candidate at the ensuing General Elections.

2.⁠ ⁠No Print Media operating in Antigua and Barbuda shall prevent or cause to prevent any Political Party or Candidate nominated to run at the General Elections scheduled to take place on the 30th Day of April 2026 from publishing any print material in order to promote the Candidacy of that Candidate at the ensuing General Elections.

3.⁠ ⁠No Radio or Television Station or Print Media operating in Antigua and Barbuda shall distort or cause to be distorted any material given to it for broadcast or advertisement in print to promote the Candidacy of a Candidate at the ensuing General Elections.

4.⁠ ⁠No Radio or Television Station or the Management thereof shall charge more than the ordinary and or hourly rate for advertisement of material to promote the Candidacy of a Candidate at the ensuing General Elections in order to prevent that Candidate from being able to broadcast or advertise the said material at an affordable rate.

Penalty

Any Radio Station, Television Station, Print Media or Servant thereof that contravenes any of the Rules hereby provided shall be guilty of an offence and shall on summary conviction be fined the sum of $10,000.00 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 1 year.