UB Researcher: “Most Bahamians Believe the Process Isn’t Worth Their Time”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The general election may be over, but analysis continues into what contributed to lower voter turnout.

While officials had pointed to a record number of registered voters, turnout fell short of expectations as only 66% of the 200,000+ voters showed up at the polls on Election Day.

University of The Bahamas senior researcher, Ian Strachan says the low voter turnout wasn’t something he expected.

Ian Strachan – Senior Research Fellow, UB

“I was very surprised given [that] registration [picked] up. I thought that we would have a rebound from what we saw after COVID…I thought the campaign would would bring people out for sure and then people would vote. I was surprised that we can’t get back there, and you know some of that was probably a response to the botched advanced poll. Some people are on the fence.”

However, it’s more than that, because while Strachan says it’s unfortunate, many just don’t believe the process is worth their time.

Ian Strachan – Senior Research Fellow, UB

“They don’t have faith in the existing government, they don’t have faith in the opposition parties, and they figure whatever happens won’t affect me negatively, positively, any significant extent, so I don’t need to engage.”

“I’ve been around a while. I’ve been in that situation when I was younger, I didn’t have a family and a mortgage. I’ve boycotted elections, but the older you get and the more you see that it’s hard to do so…”

He says perhaps top of mind for voters are unkept campaign promises over the years, concerns about crime and a range of political controversies and scandals – all of which he suggests may be contributing to voters staying home.

Additionally, he believes that opposition parties have struggled to effectively persuade voters to shift their support or to change the status quo.

Ian Strachan – Senior Research Fellow, UB

“I think the COI and the FNM need to meet somewhere in the middle for the benefit of the country. What that looks like I don’t know, but I think that would probably be something that could energize a lot of people who are disenchanted.”