2021 Bahamian general election
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16 September 2021
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All 39 seats in the House of Assembly 20 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Registered | 194,524 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![](#/media/File:Philip_"Brave"_Davis_(profile).jpg)
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 16 September 2021 to elect all 39 members of the House of Assembly.[1]
Around two hours after the polls closed, and results started to trickle in, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis conceded defeat, after results showed his party Free National Movement losing several seats they previously held. Since 1997, every election has resulted in a change of government.[2] On 17 September Philip Davis of the Progressive Liberal Party was sworn in as prime minister.[3]
The Bahamas has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January 2021, it was reported that the PLP was expecting an early election.[4]
At dissolution, the FNM was down four seats on their 2017 result; House Speaker Halson Moultrie, Reece Chipman, and Frederick McAlpine left the party to sit and run for re-election as independents, whilst Vaughn Miller defected to the PLP.[5]
In the run up to the 2021 election, there were plans to implement biometric I.D. Cards which could be used for voting,[6] however, such a proposal did not manifest by the time of the election.[7]
Electoral system
Members of the House of Assembly are elected from single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting.[8] The majority party then selects the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the Governor-General.[9]
Candidates
On 3 February, the Progressive Liberal Party revealed their first 18 candidates.[10] On 21 June 2021, they selected the rest of their candidates for the election.[11] The Free National Movement completed ratifying candidates by July 2021.[12]
The Democratic National Alliance posted a slate of 19 candidates in March 2021.[13] New parties include Coalition of Independents, formed by members of Bahamian Evolution, and the Grand Commonwealth Party.[14][15] House Speaker Moultrie formed an electoral alliance of independent and third party candidates.[16]
Results
The elections were observed by several teams including the Caribbean Community, the Commonwealth and the Organisation of American States.[17][18]
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| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Progressive Liberal Party | 66,407 | 52.59 | 32 | +28 | |
| Free National Movement | 46,030 | 36.45 | 7 | –28 | |
| Coalition of Independents | 8,388 | 6.64 | 0 | New | |
| Democratic National Alliance | 1,497 | 1.19 | 0 | 0 | |
| United Coalition Movement | 590 | 0.47 | 0 | New | |
| Kingdom Government Movement | 530 | 0.42 | 0 | New | |
| Grand Commonwealth Party | 260 | 0.21 | 0 | New | |
| Bahamas Constitution Party | 120 | 0.10 | 0 | 0 | |
| Righteous Government Movement | 61 | 0.05 | 0 | New | |
| Faith that Moves Mountains Party | 18 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Bahamian Way Forward Movement | 11 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 2,359 | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 126,271 | 100.00 | 39 | 0 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 194,524 | – | |||
| Source: CLEA | |||||
Seat that changed hands
Free National to Progressive Liberal
- Bain Town and Grants Town: won by Wayde Watson
- Bamboo Town: won by Patricia Deveaux
- Carmichael: won by Keith Bell
- Central and South Abaco: won by John Pinder II
- Central and South Eleuthera: won by Clay Sweeting
- Centreville: won by Jomo Campbell
- Elizabeth: won by JoBeth Coleby-Davis
- Fort Charlotte: won by Alfred Sears
- Fox Hill: won by Fred Mitchell
- Freetown: won by Wayne Munroe
- Garden Hills: won by Mario Bowleg
- Golden Gates: won by Pia Glover-Rolle
- Golden Isles: won by Vaughn Miller
- Marathon: won by Lisa Rahming
- MICAL: won by Basil McIntosh
- Mount Moriah: won by Mckell Bonaby
- Nassau Village: won by Jamahl Strachan
- North Abaco: won by Kirk Cornish
- North Andros and Berry Islands: won by Leonardo Lightbourne
- North Eleuthera: won by Sylvannus Petty
- Pineridge: won by Ginger Moxey
- Pinewood: won by Myles Laroda
- Sea Breeze: won by Leslia Miller-Brice
- South Beach: won by Bacchus Rolle
- Southern Shores: won by Leroy Major
- Tall Pines: won by Michael Darville
- Yamacraw: won by Zane Lightbourne
