National

Opposition Raising Questions On Biometric Cards, Government Seeks To Clarify

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The debate on biometric voter cards raised concerns over data privacy and consent , with the Prime Minister suggesting mandatory voter registration in the future.

Published

6 months ago

August 9, 2025

Joshua Williams

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The introduction of biometric voter cards has sparked significant debate in the House of Assembly this week and garnered attention across the media.

Prime Minister Philip Davis opened the debate on proposed amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act, reassuring voters that there’s no cause for concern.

However, Opposition Deputy Leader and St. Barnabas Member of Parliament, Shanendon Cartwright, raised some important questions during his contribution.

SHANENDON CARTWRIGHT – DEPUTY LEADER, OPPOSITION
“How will we ensure individuals consent to use their data for purposes beyond passport applications? How long will the data be stored, and who will have access to it?”

He emphasized that the data should be encrypted and only accessible by authorized personnel. Cartwright also called for greater investment in the Data Protection Commission, so it has the resources to monitor compliance, investigate complaints, and impose penalties.

These concerns, Cartwright noted, were shared with both the Parliamentary Commissioner and the Prime Minister during a consultation session, which also involved the Third-Party Coalition of Independents. While the Commissioner addressed many of these concerns, Cartwright pointed out that they were raised publicly for taxpayers to be aware of.

WAYNE MUNROE K.C. – MINISTER, NATIONAL SECURITY
“In response to the question of whether a foreign company was involved in election management, the answer is no. Regarding consent, it will be obtained in writing, and the Parliamentary Commissioner and his team will ensure this process is followed. As for data protection, requiring consent aligns with respecting data privacy, especially concerning passport-related data.”

The new biometric voter cards will usher in voter identification exercises every ten years, updating biometric data for greater security.

Additionally, the bill introduces an e-poll book: a secure electronic device designed to streamline the voting process while maintaining security.

PHILIP DAVIS – PRIME MINISTER
“In the future, I would like to see voter registration become mandatory. While it would still be a personal choice whether or not to vote, registering to vote should be a requirement.”