FUNCTIONS/WHAT WE DO
About us
The Turks and Caicos Islands Elections Department is one of the departments in accordance with the Constitution that protects good governance. The department functions under the umbrella of the Governor’s Office. We make sure elections are run well and that people have all the information they need about elections and voting.
Our Authority
The Elections Ordinance reprinted 2020
The TCI Constitutional Order 2012
Challenge:
Election Turks and Caicos will balance how best to serve its stakeholders, protect the integrity of the electoral process and use public resources effectively and efficiently. These are external factors that impact on Turks and Caicos elections to fulfil its mandate and meet the needs of its stakeholders.
Geographic Diversity:
It is a challenging task to deliver electoral services uniformly across the Islands and we recognize that residents of Salt Cay, South Caicos, Middle and North Caicos are entitled to receive the same level of service as the residents of Grand Turk and Providenciales. We will continue to strive to deliver electoral excellence by providing electors access to services that are consistent, while also meeting their needs regardless to where they live.
Demographic Trends/Demands
Population projection indicates that the population in Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to increase. Elections Turks and Caicos is aware that older electors and electors with special needs may need assistance and will continue to look for opportunities to make voting more accessible.
Young electors who are part of electoral communities may be unaware of how to exercise their democratic right to vote and election Turks and Caicos will continue to provide these electors with information about Turks and Caicos electoral process, the right to vote and how to be a Candidate for elections.
Technology
Electors, Candidates, Political Parties and Supervisor of Elections will keep pace with the rapid advance in electoral technology. Elections TCI will adopt to new technology by introducing voting machines. While the ability to do so may be constrained by cost or Legislative requirements and limited infrastructure in some Islands, we will strive to incorporate new technologies into our service delivery.
Event Infrastructure:
Voter turnout for elections 2012 compare to 2021 increased significantly however, it is difficult to recruit and train persons who are needed to serve as election and polling day workers for the various constituencies. Election TCI will devise new recruitment and training strategies for the administration of elections.
Election Turks and Caicos recognizes the need to have accessible and convenient voting locations and also recognize the problem and complaints from electors on polling day of having to remain in queue for hours and this competing demand imposes significant challenge which will be address.
Election Turks and Caicos will maintain a constant state of readiness to administer elections. To meet this obligation, planning and preparation will begin well in advance. We will also be mindful of the timing of the appointment of Returning Officers, and Legislative changes may impact our readiness and degree of preparation.
Strategic Priorities
Elections are a unique business posing many challenges, but it is demonstrated that we have the flexibility to meet any challenge.
Consistent with our vision and values the strategic priorities currently identified to fulfil our mission are:
· Maintaining a Register of Electors (ROE).
The preparation and maintenance of the Register of Electors is a very important component of the elections process, it is a database from which the voters list is created. Recommended Legislative amendments will equip Elections Turks and Caicos with a wider range of methods for maintaining (ROE) and this will afford electors the opportunity to take an active role in verifying and confirming their elector information.
Elections Turks and Caicos will continue to provide information to electors explaining how they can be active partners in the electoral process and their involvement will allow us to improve the information held in the (ROE) and will permit us to better respond to stakeholders.
· Expending our Public Education
Recommended Legislative amendments will broaden Election Turks and Caicos Public Education mandate. We will continue to build on our successes in an effort to make the electoral process more accessible for communities across the Turks and Caicos Islands. We will work with schools to provide information to students (who are new electors or who are about to become electors) about Turks and Caicos Electoral process, the right to vote and how to register to vote. We will continue implementing public education and information programs to make Turks and Caicos Electoral process better known to the public, particular to those persons and groups most likely to experience difficulties in exercising their democratic rights.
We are committed to reaching all Turks and Caicos Islanders with information they need about the electoral process, the right to vote and how to be a Candidate.
· Managing our business
Modern management practices continue to guide us in everything we do and measures will be enhanced in order to allow us to monitor our progress in all areas. We embrace quality management, project and risk management best practices. In looking ahead, we will have resources dedicated to ensuring that our administrative processes are reliable and effective.
Elections Turks and Caicos are committed to further identifying opportunities to implement modern election practices.
· Protecting the Integrity of the Electoral Process
Elections Turks and Caicos will continue to work in corporation with the participants in the electoral process to assist them in meeting their statutory obligations. In meeting our responsibilities, we will increase public awareness and confidence in how we fulfil our managerial election obligations under the election’s ordinance.
We are committed to protecting the integrity of the electoral process by effectively ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity that will always be applied fairly and consistently in the democratic process of elections.