The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) wishes to inform the general public that all Registration Units and the Commission’s Headquarters will be temporarily closed from Tuesday, May 5 through Friday, May 8, 2026, with normal operations resuming on Monday, May 11, 2026.
This decision has been taken following careful deliberation and with full awareness of the Commission’s statutory obligations under the Representation of the People Act, which contemplates the continuous availability of registration services to the public throughout the year.
The Commission remains firmly committed to upholding both the letter and the spirit of this legislative framework, which is central to safeguarding electoral access and integrity.
However, the Commission is equally mindful of its institutional responsibility to ensure the sustainability, welfare, and operational readiness of its human resources.
In the period leading up to and during the recent electoral cycle, ABEC’s staff—both at Headquarters and across all Registration Units—demonstrated extraordinary dedication and professionalism in the execution of their duties. This included:
Extended working hours, in many cases exceeding 16-hour workdays without adequate rest;
Continuous operations at Headquarters over 24-hour periods in the critical days preceding the election;
The maintenance of uninterrupted public service delivery for voter registration, renewals, and card distribution under intense operational pressure.
These efforts contributed materially to the successful conduct of an electoral process that was widely regarded as efficient, orderly, and incident-free.
This temporary closure is therefore an administrative measure, taken in recognition of the exceptional demands recently placed on the institution and its personnel. It is not intended to derogate from the Commission’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and compliance with the Representation of the People Act.
ABEC thanks the citizens and residents of Antigua and Barbuda for their understanding and extends its profound appreciation to its staff for their yeoman service in the advancement of democracy.
Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC)
Date: May 2, 2026