Office of the Supervisor of Elections

Supervisor of Elections: Ms. Juliette Penn
Address: No. 6 Dawson Building, Russell Hill Road, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Tel: 284-494-4380/ 284-494-3701 ext. 4380, 4375, 4376, 4377, 4378
Fax: 284-468-2779

History

The Elections Office became a full Department/Unit in 2003 when for the first time a Supervisor of Elections was employed full time with a staff of 3 persons.  The Elections Office is a unit within the Deputy Governor’s Group.  Before the Elections Office became a full unit it was operated from within the offices of the High Court/Registry every four years.

In an effort to have persons registered as soon as they are eligible continuous voter registration was introduced in 1990.  Today all eligible persons can be registered to vote without waiting until there is an election to do so, and therefore avoid the risk of being disenfranchised.

Plans and Programmes

(1) Voters Registration Cards will be implemented for the 2007 General Elections.  Training for the staff of the Elections Office will commence in early 2007.  Voters Registration Cards will be used for the identification of voters with the hope of making the process faster and more efficient. Educating the public on the Voters Registration Cards will also commence in 2007

(2) An amendment to the laws is being considered which will enable the Elections Office to publish the voters list annually.  Presently the list is issued every four years.  The annual publication of the list will give politicians and the general public an opportunity to peruse the list and to make claims and objections.

Budget and Staff

The Office is staffed in a non-election year by three full time members namely, Supervisor of Elections, Administrative Officer, Clerical Trainee/Messenger.   In an election year the staff is increased to six members of staff.   Additional staff includes Deputy Supervisor of Elections, Senior Executive Officer and a Clerical Officer.  These persons join the Elections Office approximately one month before Elections.

The Budget for the Elections Office is controlled from the Office of the Deputy Governor. Bills incurred by the Elections Office are received by the Elections Office approved and sent to the Deputy Governor Office for payment.

News and Information from the Elections Office