IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Bahamas

Commonwealth of the Bahamas

399,440
Population (as of Jan. 1, 2023)

194,525
Registered Voters (as of None)

77.40%
Average Turnout

9
Elections in our database

V-Dem Score: N/A

CEDAW Status: Ratified
Ratified Date: Oct. 6, 1993

SIGI Score: N/A

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: Sept. 24, 2013
Ratified Date: Sept. 28, 2015

HDI* Score: 0.820
Category: Very High
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Bahaman Senate		Upper House
Bahaman House of Assembly		Lower House

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: King CHARLES III (since 9 September 2022)
- Represented by Governor General Cynthia A. PRATT (since 1 September 2023)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Philip Edward DAVIS (since 23 September 2021)
Assembly: bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate with 16 seats and the House of Assembly with 38 seats

Description of electoral system:

The King is a hereditary monarch.
The Prime Minister is appointed by the governor-general.
In the Senate 16 members are appointed by the governor-general to serve 5-year terms.
In the House of Assembly 38 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.

Elections

2026-09-30 | Status: Date not confirmed
Bahaman House of Assembly
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2021-09-16 | Status: Held
Bahaman House of Assembly
Votes 126,495
Registered 194,525
Turnout 65.03

2017-05-10 | Status: Held
Bahaman House of Assembly
Votes 159,910
Registered 184,000
Turnout 86.91

2016-06-07 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 83,862
Registered 179,508
Turnout 46.72

2013-01-28 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2012-05-07 | Status: Held
Bahaman House of Assembly
Votes 156,987
Registered 172,128
Turnout 91.2

2007-05-02 | Status: Held
Bahaman House of Assembly
Votes 138,800
Registered 150,743
Turnout 92.08

2002-05-02 | Status: Held
Bahaman House of Assembly
Votes 130,536
Registered 144,758
Turnout 90.18

2002-02-27 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 88,519
Registered 127,000
Turnout 69.7

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Bahaman House of Assembly	2026-09-30	Date not confirmed	-	-	-
Bahaman House of Assembly	2021-09-16	Held	126,495	194,525	65.03
Bahaman House of Assembly	2017-05-10	Held	159,910	184,000	86.91
Referendum	2016-06-07	Held	83,862	179,508	46.72
Referendum	2013-01-28	Held	-	-	-
Bahaman House of Assembly	2012-05-07	Held	156,987	172,128	91.2
Bahaman House of Assembly	2007-05-02	Held	138,800	150,743	92.08
Bahaman House of Assembly	2002-05-02	Held	130,536	144,758	90.18
Referendum	2002-02-27	Held	88,519	127,000	69.7

Voter Turnout

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