ELECTIONS OFFICE PRAISED…but some improvements recommended

Part Two: Commonwealth Observers

Cayman has come in for high praise from the visiting election observer mission from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for a robust system underpinning the electoral process run by the Elections Office headed by Supervisor of Elections Wesley Howell.

During a press conference one day following the April 30th general election, the CPA team stated that Cayman “went to the polls in a calm, peaceful and well organized election process.”

The delegation said “polling stations were well prepared, staff were trained and knowledgeable and returning and presiding officers showed excellent leadership in dealing with any problems and ensuring eligible voters could cast their ballots.”

Head of Mission, Deputy Rob Ward from the States Assembly of Jersey singled out inclusion of people with disabilities as exemplary, noting also that on election day voters were “assisted with dignity and respect” in accordance with the required procedures.

He also highlighted that in the week prior to election day, the opportunity for advanced voting was provided, known as mobile voting, which included visiting voters in their homes to enable them to exercise their democratic rights in a private and inclusive manner. Eligible voters abroad were able to participate in this election through a postal vote.

However, there are some concerns especially surrounding the referendum process, campaign financing and who is eligible to participate in the electoral process.

Regarding the referendum, CPA Head of Mission Ward observed that while it was enabled by the Referendum Act 2025, “that was passed only a few months prior to election day, and is silent on many important matters, such as campaign finance.” He also stated that campaigning on the referendum issues was minimal and with activity primarily limited to cruise berthing infrastructure issues.

On the issue of voting rights being tied to Caymanian citizenship many long-term residents are consequently excluded, and candidates must reside in the islands for seven years before nomination. It also noted that a review of constituency boundaries is overdue.

CPA elections analyst Anne Marlborough from Ireland commented: “We certainly have identified some areas in the law that are not entirely ideal. In general, it’s quite good. It’s quite regulated. But around things like the right to stand for election, there are many qualifications that somebody has to satisfy, and some of these arguably could be dispensed with if one was to attempt to fully vindicate the rights to vote and to stand for election.”

Addressing the matter of dual citizenship, she said: “The law is a small bit vague there in that you have to revert to court rulings to really understand whether somebody is qualified to stand for election or not. So it needs to be clear. There really needs to be certainty in the law. That’s very important.”

That concern also extended to persons imprisoned for more than 12 months who are likewise disqualified from standing for election.

These along with issues surrounding campaign finance transparency will be addressed with recommendations in the final report.

CPA member Alun Davies MS, Member of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), said one thing which stood out for him was “the kindness of presiding officers and polling clerks helping and enabling people to participate…human kindness, and I think that’s something to be commended. Recounting his experience at a polling station in West Bay, he complimented the counting officers who “took so much care and attention to each individual voter” saying it contributed to transparency of the process.

Those views were echoed by his colleague observer Tim Johnson Member of the House of Keys (MHK), Isle of Man, commenting on what he saw in Cayman Brac

“I really would like to praise the presiding officers and the teams in Brac. I think they did an excellent job. They clearly knew their roles and their responsibilities very clearly, and they executed that really in a really great way…I think that sort of the more general thing that I stood out was there was real pride in the people running the polling stations and it was done correctly. Everybody knew what they were doing.”

Describing the overall election as vibrant and peaceful, with diverse media used for campaigning, the CPA mission said it will publish recommendations within two months to enhance the electoral process and democracy in the Cayman Islands.