National

Parl. Commissioner: Advanced Poll Is Becoming Like A Junior Election

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson says the Advanced Poll plays a crucial role in ensuring every eligible voter has a fair chance to participate.

Published

5 months ago

November 13, 2025

Sasha Lightbourne

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Have you ever wondered why voters head to the polls early before a general election or by-election? Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson says the Advanced Poll plays a crucial role in ensuring every eligible voter has a fair chance to participate.

Thompson explains that the Advanced Poll was originally created to accommodate members of the armed forces who could not vote on Election Day because of national duties. Over time, it expanded to include poll workers, political party agents, senior citizens, and voters with medical or travel needs, making it increasingly similar to a smaller version of Election Day itself.

Nearly eight thousand voters are eligible to cast ballots in the Golden Isles by-election on November 24. The candidates are Darron Pickstock for the Progressive Liberal Party, Brian Brown for the Free National Movement, Brian Rolle for the Coalition of Independents, and independent candidate Karen Butler.

For Monday’s Advanced Poll, only two hundred eighty-three people are eligible to vote, and all will do so at Remnant Tabernacle Church. Thompson says preparations are complete, ballots are ready, and his team is set.

Voters participating in the Advanced Poll are encouraged to bring their voter’s card or a government-issued ID if the card cannot be located.

Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. on Monday.