Electoral Reforms: No voter fraud in Dominica's post-independence history

Electoral change or reform to an election process is always a sensitive matter and it should be handled with broader stakeholders consultation with a view to achieving consensus.

The existing electoral system in the Commonwealth of Dominica has served the country very well and it is acknowledged by every leader. It has delivered credible elections and facilitated the peaceful transfer of power to the political party voted out by citizens.

It is noteworthy that throughout Dominica’s post-independence history there has never been any recorded case of personation (i.e. voter fraud where an individual vote in an election whilst pretending to be a different elector).

However, there have been two major issues concerning the electoral process, which have exercised the minds of the general public over the last few years and on which there is the consensus.

• One is the updating of the register of electors and where appropriate and lawful, the removal of names of electors no longer entitled to remain on it from the register.
• Second is the introduction of photo identification cards for the purpose of voting.

The electoral system reforms take more than what we think. It is the process of electing power and if the current electoral reforms are doing very well, it can not be changed by a fraction of time.

According to other countries including United States of America, United Kingdom or any other European country, the reforms in the election process is considered to be a major change in the country’s system and it can not be changed very soon.

Appropriate consultation and relevant considerations are needed when a country is following the electoral reforms. Although, there is no urgency in this matter as the previous election system is working very well in transferring power from one to the next political outfit in Dominica.