Voters in the Bahamas went to the polls on Tuesday in a snap general election that will decide all 41 seats in the House of Assembly, with Prime Minister Philip Davis seeking a second consecutive term for his Progressive Liberal Party [1, 2].
Davis called the vote early, after it had been expected in October, and his party is trying to extend its hold on power after winning 32 of 39 seats in the last legislature; two more seats were added for this contest [2]. Davis told supporters, "Today, we vote to keep The Bahamas moving forward" and urged them to "protect our progress, keep our momentum, and secure what comes next. Vote PLP. Choose Progress." [2]
The main opposition is the Free National Movement, led by Michael Pintard, while political observers are also watching whether the Coalition of Independents can win seats after taking nearly 8,000 votes in 2021 [2, 1]. The Bahamas has not had a government win two consecutive terms since 1997, according to The Nassau Guardian as cited by Al Jazeera [2].
Immigration, especially from Haiti, is a major issue in the campaign, along with the rising cost of living, affordability, poor wage growth and housing costs [1, 2]. FNM candidate Carlyle Bethel said of illegal entry and citizenship, "The FNM has made it clear that anybody that enters the country illegally … will never have a pathway to citizenship," adding that the party would not tolerate people who "sneak in" and later demand citizenship [1].
The election comes as more than 200,000 registered voters choose between the PLP and its rivals in constituencies across the islands [1, 2].
