All Saint Lucians, who are eligible to vote, choose people to represent them at 3 levels of government. Each level is run by a parliament or council, made up of representatives elected by the people. Each has different areas of responsibility in making decisions for all of us.
Overview of the Saint Lucia Electoral System
Head of State | Inherited monarchy with a Governor General appointed by the British Monarch |
Head of Government | Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor General |
Constituencies | 17 single-member constituencies. |
Voting System | In the Senate 11 members are appointed by the monarch to serve a 5-year term. In House of Assembly 17 members are elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term. Six seats are appointed according to the Prime Minister’s recommendation. |
Term of Office | 5 years |
Voter Requirements | – age: 18 years – British Commonwealth citizenship – residence in Saint Lucia – disqualifications: insanity, imprisonment, death sentence, conviction for electoral offences |
Candidate Eligibility and Requirements | – qualified electors – age: 21 years – British Commonwealth citizenship – birth in Saint Lucia – domicile and residence in the country on the date of nomination (or birth elsewhere with residency in the country for a period of 12 months immediately before that date) – ability to speak and – unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause – to read the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to take an active part in the proceedings of the House – ineligibilities: allegiance to a foreign State, undischarged bankruptcy, insanity, death sentence, imprisonment exceeding 12 months – support by at least six registered electors – deposit of 250 East Caribbean dollars, reimbursed if the candidate obtains at least 1/8 of the votes cast in the constituency |
Last Elections | 28 November 2011 |
Next Elections | November 2016 |
Source: Caribbean Elections