The Government of Dominica has formally requested technical assistance from regional and international partners to support the implementation of key electoral reform measures.

The request was made to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Organization of American States, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and Caribbean Community following concerns about the timely and effective implementation of two major reform initiatives aimed at modernizing the electoral system.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told a press conference on Wednesday these reforms include the confirmation of voter registration to improve the accuracy and integrity of the voters’ list, and the introduction of voter identification cards to strengthen verification procedures and reduce the risk of electoral fraud.

“In terms of the confirmation process under the new Registration of Electors Act, the Electoral Office has received 16,573 applications from October 15th, 2025 to April 30th, 2026. 13,146 of those applications for confirmation were received between October 15th, 2025 and November 30th, 2025 – the first six weeks of the 12-month confirmation period,” the Prime Minister explained.

“Yet, by April 30th, 2026 – six and a half months later – only 6,592 or 40% of the applications for confirmation have been approved. This means that 9,981 voters who have applied for confirmation of their registration have not been confirmed.

“None of the confirmed registered voters have received their voter identification cards and we understand that the Electoral Office will only commence the issuance of these ID cards in six to eight weeks,” he added.

The Prime Minister said the request for international support reflects the technical complexity and national importance of the reforms, particularly efforts to clean the voters’ list and implement a secure voter ID system.

The proposed areas of assistance include a comprehensive technical assessment of the voter confirmation process, including efficiency in application approvals; evaluation of systems for the issuance and management of voter ID cards, with attention to security, accessibility, and integration with the electoral register; recommendations aligned with international best practices to promote inclusivity, transparency, and operational efficiency; and capacity-building support for electoral officials, alongside public education initiatives to build confidence and encourage participation.

Prime Minister Skerrit said Government stands ready to facilitate a joint or coordinated mission with its regional and international partners and will provide all necessary support to advance the initiative.