2013 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 21 February 2013. They were the first post-independence elections where the election date was announced five years after the last general election.[1] The ruling Democratic Labour Party was re-elected with a reduced majority, winning 16 of the 30 seats in the House of Assembly.

2013 Barbadian general election

21 February 2013
30 seats in the House of Assembly 16 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	62.02% (1.52%)
Leader Freundel Stuart Owen Arthur Party DLP BLP Leader since 23 October 2010 18 October 2010 Leader's seat St. Michael South St. Peter Last election 20 seats, 52.5% 10 seats, 47.1% Seats won 16 14 Seat change 4 4 Popular vote 78,851 74,121 Percentage 51.3% 48.2% Swing 1.2% 1.1%
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before election Freundel Stuart DLP Elected Prime Minister Freundel Stuart DLP

Background

According to the Constitution of Barbados, elections must take place no longer than every five years from the first sitting of Parliament.[2] The last general election was held on 15 January 2008, while the first sitting of the current session of Parliament was held on 12 February 2008.[3] After the dissolution of Parliament, the Governor-General of Barbados, on behalf of the Crown in Right of Barbados, must issue a writ for a general election for members to the House of Assembly and for appointment of Senators to the Senate within 90 days.[4]

The election and nomination dates were announced by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on 29 January 2013. The nomination deadline for candidates to register was scheduled for 6 February 2013.[5][6][7][8]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Democratic Labour Party	78,851	51.30	16	–4
	Barbados Labour Party	74,121	48.22	14	+4
	People's Democratic Congress	89	0.06	0	0
	Bajan Free Party	50	0.03	0	New
	Kingdom Government of Barbados	39	0.03	0	New
	Independents	552	0.36	0	0
Total		153,702	100.00	30	0
Valid votes		153,702	99.52
Invalid/blank votes		741	0.48
Total votes		154,443	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		249,024	62.02
Source: Caribbean Elections

See also

• List of Parliamentary constituencies in Barbados

References

1. Bradshaw, Maria (30 January 2013). "Experts: PM's timing curious". Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 30 January 2013. “We knew that the Constitution and the law allowed him to call it after the five years had passed since the last election but it was the practice in Barbados and most of the Commonwealth that you would call the elections before the anniversary of the last election date.
2. Constitution: Section 61 (3): "Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved. (4) At any time when Barbados is at war, Parliament may extend the period of five years specified in subsection (3) for not more than twelve months at a time:"
3. Stuart’s dilemma The Daily Nation
4. Constitution: Section 62 (1) (2): "After every dissolution of Parliament the Governor General shall issue writs for a general election of members of the House of Assembly returnable within ninety days from that dissolution. (2) As soon as may be after every general election the Governor General shall proceed under section 36 to the appointment of Senators."
5. "Barbados to elect new government on February 21". Caribbean News Agency (CANA). Archived from the original on 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2013-01-29.
6. Shawn Cumberbatch; Donna Sealy (30 January 2013). "PM rings election bell". Barbados Today. Retrieved 30 January 2013. Election officials got the ball rolling tonight when they were dispatched island wide to post notices of the February 21 polling and Nomination Day, which will be next Wednesday. Here officers Haskell Drakes and Everton Henry paste a notice on the door of the District “A” Police Station.
7. Editorial (30 January 2013). "The bell has been rung". The Barbados Advocate. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013. The date for the next General Election has been set. Barbadians will be heading to the polls on Thursday, February 21 to cast their votes. Nomination day is next week Wednesday.
8. "Election day is February 21". The Daily Nation. Retrieved 30 January 2013.

External links

• Election results, By Nation newspaper
• Election results, Voice of Barbados