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CHOOSING A GOVERNMENT
Our country, The Bahamas, is divided into voting areas called constituencies. These areas are defined
by Parliament. There are 38 constituencies in The Bahamas as of 2012. A Member of Parliament
(MP) is elected for each constituency.
Citizen of each constituency have the right, by voting, to decide who should lead or represent them.
However, not every citizen may vote a voter must be at least 18 years old. At this age a person is
considered mature enough to make important national decisions. People who are mentally ill are not
allowed to vote because they are not considered able to make important national decisions.
Prisoners are also denied the right to vote as part of their punishment.
Once you are eligible or able to vote, you should register (an official list or record of names) your
name and prove your citizenship. Your name is then added to the voter's list.
Political parties
The first formal political party was the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), formed in 1953. Then in
1958, the United Bahamian Party (UBP) was formed,
Voters may vote for only one of the candidates in an election. Most candidates belong to a political
party. Each party has its own idea about how the country should be run, and these ideas are stated as
policies. Some people have some ideas of what to expect from a party if it wins an election and forms
the Government.
Most democratic countries have two main parties. In The Bahamas the two major parties are the
Progressive liberal Party (PLP), and the Free National Movement (FNM). Other parties include:
Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and Independents
Nomination
Our constitution states that an election must be held every five years, although it may be more
frequently than this. Parliament must be dissolved 21 to 26 days before the date of a general election.
This gives each party enough time to prepare its case for election. On nomination day the candidates
for each party must submit their names and pay a deposit of money ($400) to the constituency office.
If the candidate wins at least one-sixth of all the votes in the constituency, he or she gets the deposit
back.
Run-up to a general election: (1) government dissolved, (2) election day announce,
(3) nomination day, (4) campaign, (5) election day.