Elections 2023
1,093 New Voters For 2023 General Election
The British Virgin Islander 2023 Revised Voters’ List has 16,131 registered voters, an increased of 1,093 new voters since the February 2019 General Election.
A total of 15,038 persons were registered to vote in 2019.
The 2023 list was published across the territory on March 28 by the Office of the Supervisor of Elections.
Advance Polling Day is April 20, and Election Day is four days later on April 24.
Persons can check to see if their names are on the list in their respective districts and at bvi.gov.vg/elections under the ‘Revised Voters List’ section, or at the Elections Office, the General Post Office and all the branch post offices and sub-post offices throughout the Territory.
In 2019, a total of 9,720 cast their ballots on Election Day – voter turnout was 64.64 per cent.
On February 25, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) chaired by First Electoral District Representative Andrew Fahie, won eight of the 13 elected seats in the House of Assembly, uprooting the National Democratic Party (NDP).
Only three NDP politicians returned to the House of Assembly – party leader Myron Walwyn lost his seat.
VIP won 50.30 percent of the votes, a decisive victory for the territory’s oldest political party.
This year, the VIP now chaired by Premier and Seventh Electoral District incumbent Natalio Wheatley, is hoping to return to power with its nine electoral district and four territorial-at-large candidates.
Former Premier Fahie resigned in November 2022 following his April arrest in the United State on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.
He is currently on bail and house arrest in Florida.
A total of 42 candidates have so far registered with the Office of the Supervisor of Elections – 13 from VIP, nine from NDP and another nine from the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM).
The 11 other candidates are independents or represent smaller parties.
Nomination Day is April 13.
Elections 2023
Virgin Islands Elections Office Moves to Expand Access Through Mobile and Absentee Voting
The Office of the Supervisor of Elections announced that the proposed Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025 would expand access to voting by allowing election teams to visit specified locations so qualified and approved individuals can cast their ballots without attending a polling station in person.
According to the Bill, election officers would be authorised to operate mobile polling stations in hospitals, care facilities, prisons and private residences for voters unable to travel due to illness, disability or other qualifying reasons. Teams could also visit designated public locations ahead of polling day to serve approved absentee voters.
The proposed legislation sets out absentee and postal voting procedures, including application requirements and deadlines for voters who are overseas, medically unable to leave home, caring for dependents or on short-term remand. It also provides for emergency absentee voting in situations such as last-minute medical issues or work obligations.
The Bill further introduces terms such as “absentee voter,” “assistive voting technology,” and “curbside voting,” and would formally establish a Department of Elections responsible for voter registration, public education and the conduct of elections. It also proposes an Elections Advisory Committee to advise on electoral policy and operations.
If passed, the measure would represent one of the most significant updates to the Virgin Islands’ election laws in more than a decade, aiming to make voting more accessible while maintaining the established legal framework.
The Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduces sweeping changes to the Territory’s electoral process, including expanded vote-by-mail provisions, the creation of a Department of Elections, stricter proof-of-residence requirements, and the establishment of an Elections Advisory Committee.
The Bill, now before the House of Assembly, establishes a Department of Elections under the administration of the Supervisor of Elections. The Department will oversee continuous voter registration, revisions to the voters’ roll, candidate nominations, voter education, and the conduct and monitoring of elections. It will also support the Electoral District Boundaries Commission, settle certain electoral disputes prior to results being declared, and incorporate technology to improve transparency and accountability.
The legislation expands voting access through new provisions for absentee, postal, curbside, and mobile voting. Students, government employees, and residents working or receiving medical care abroad may qualify to vote by mail. Elderly and disabled voters unable to enter polling stations may cast ballots from their vehicles, while mobile polling teams will be permitted to visit hospitals, aged-care facilities, prisons, and private homes. An internet-based tracking system will allow voters to monitor the status of their absentee ballots.
Stricter residency verification rules are also introduced. Applicants for voter registration must provide two months of utility bills, rent receipts, or insurance documents as proof of residence. Where this is not possible, a notarized letter or a signed form from the homeowner or principal occupier may be accepted. Submitting false documents carries a fine of up to $500.
The Bill also requires relatives of registered voters who die overseas to notify the Supervisor of Elections with supporting documents, including a death certificate and proof of relationship. False reporting may result in a fine of up to $2,000 or imprisonment for two years.
An Elections Advisory Committee will be created to advise the Supervisor of Elections on policy and operations. Members will be appointed by the Governor after a public application process and in consultation with the Premier, Leader of the Opposition, and the Attorney General. The Committee will include a chairperson, four to six members, and the Supervisor of Elections as an ex-officio member. Individuals currently serving as legislators, public officers, judges, or political party executives will not be eligible.
The Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2025, also updates terminology by replacing “electronic tabulating system” with “electronic voting system” throughout the principal law. It provides for live-streaming of absentee ballot processing and requires recordkeeping, reporting, and safeguards for the handling of ballots before and after polling day.
If enacted, the Bill will amend the Elections Act, Revised Laws of the Virgin Islands 2013, with provisions coming into force on dates to be appointed by the Governor.
The Office of the Supervisor of Elections has published the 2025 Preliminary Voters List, giving registered voters in the Virgin Islands the opportunity to review their information and submit corrections before the final Revised Voters List is issued.
Officials said the publication of the preliminary list is a standard step in the election process and ensures that eligible voters are able to verify their details in advance of the next general election. Registered voters are encouraged to check their names, addresses, and other information and to report any inaccuracies promptly.
Corrections may be submitted through the Office of the Deputy Governor, located on the second floor of the Burhym Building in Road Town, Tortola, or directly to the Office of the Supervisor of Elections at 216 Upper Main Street, Creque Building, Road Town.
The Supervisor of Elections’ office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Voters may also contact the office by telephone at (284) 468-4380, by fax at (284) 468-2779, or by email at electionsvi@gov.vg.
The Office of the Deputy Governor may be reached at (284) 468-2195 or by email at dgo@gov.vg.
The Revised Voters List will be compiled following the correction period.
Visit https://gov.vg/service-details/2025-preliminary-voters-list to view the list and submit any claims or objections.
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