Electoral Office Announces Resumption of Voter Registration, Effective March 9, 2026

The Electoral Office has announced that voter registration will officially resume on March 9, 2026, in accordance with the provisions of the Registration of Electors Act, 2025.

Voter registration had been temporarily suspended following the passage of the new legislation, which required the introduction of a computerized voter registration system and revised requirements for electors. The Act also mandated that all existing voters confirm their registration, with the Electoral Commission required to publicly announce the confirmation period within one month of the law’s approval.

As a result, the Electoral Office explained that voter confirmation and voter registration had to be developed and implemented as two separate programmes. To meet the legal timeline, priority was given to voter confirmation, which was launched in October 2025 and marked the first phase of the implementation of the new law.

During this period, the Electoral Office said it was not legally permitted to process voter registrations using the old forms or the previous registration system. Additionally, a new system to generate voter identification numbers in line with the new legislation had to be developed.

The Electoral Office has now confirmed that it is fully prepared to begin the second phase of the process, voter registration, using the modernized system. This upgraded system includes new software, advanced technological equipment, and specialized training for registering officers and assistant registering officers. Registration will now be conducted using computerized devices capable of entering data, scanning required documents, and capturing photographs of applicants.

Between March 2026 and the end of the voter confirmation period, registration will be carried out at Confirmation Centres across the State.

Under the new requirements, Dominican citizens seeking to register must present either a valid passport; or a valid Social Security card and birth certificate; or a valid driver’s licence and birth certificate, along with a witness from the same polling district. Commonwealth citizens must present a valid passport or government-issued identification and a birth certificate from their country of origin, as well as a sworn affidavit of identity.

To qualify for registration, a person must be either a Dominican citizen aged 18 or older who has resided in the polling district for a continuous period of at least three months immediately preceding the qualifying date, or a Commonwealth citizen who has resided in Dominica continuously for at least 12 months.

The Electoral Office is encouraging all persons interested in registering to ensure that their required documents are in place ahead of the commencement of the voter registration process.