Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth and a world-renowned tourist destination, often referred to as the backyard of North America. It serves as a global offshore financial center and a famous international tax haven. Immigrating to Antigua allows one to obtain citizenship and a passport of a Commonwealth country, enjoying visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 139 countries. In addition to the appeal of its tourism and economic environment for new immigrants, the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda stipulates that it is a "unified and sovereign democratic state." It will hold parliamentary elections on the 12th of this month, with the two main political parties, the United Progressive Party and the Labour Party, competing for parliamentary seats in 17 constituencies across the country.
Voting for this election will take place from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time, with results expected to be announced later that day or the following day. According to Anne George, spokesperson for the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, there are 47,721 registered voters in the country, accounting for more than half of the total population.
Since 1989, parliamentary elections in Antigua and Barbuda have been held in March, but this year's election was delayed due to the two parties' failure to reach a consensus on two key issues: constituency boundary delimitation and voter identification. The previous parliament was automatically dissolved on April 26 following the end of its term.
Parliamentary elections in Antigua and Barbuda are held every five years. In 2004, the United Progressive Party, led by current Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, defeated the Labour Party, which had been in power for 28 consecutive years, and won again in 2009.
Antigua and Barbuda is located in the northern part of the Eastern Caribbean, with an area of over 440 square kilometers and a population of 88,000. With an average annual temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, it is famous for its unpolluted waters and beaches, making it a renowned tourist destination.