Anguilla Focus
– Editorial Team
Anguilla will hold its 2025 general election on February 25 and 26. (Canva)
A group of nonpartisan residents will observe these elections to provide an impartial account of the voting process. The Anguilla Independent Citizen Observers (AICO) operate completely independently of the Governor’s Office, the government, and any political party or candidate.
They will monitor early voting, voting on Election Day, the counting and tabulation of votes, and the conduct of operations at the Central Election Office.
The late Reverend Wycherley Gumbs had led the AICO during the last general election in 2020, producing a final report in July, and the team had also observed the District 3 by-election in 2022. A press release from the governor’s office, dated February 18, states that an independent consultant will be made available to support the AICO, while clarifying that its missions and statements will remain free from any influence.
Rules for Observers
Governor Julia Crouch has appointed Canon Simon Reid to lead the national observation effort, assisted by nine other nonpartisan observers, in accordance with legal requirements.
All observers must comply with the «Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Civil Society Organizations» and have signed a pledge of nonpartisanship attesting to their lack of affiliation with any party, candidate, or official involved in these elections. Furthermore, they may not observe the election in the district where they are registered to vote.
The team will issue a preliminary statement on February 27 or 28, following the official release of the results, before submitting a final report to the governor’s office, which will be made public on March 31.
General Elections
General elections in Anguilla are held every five years; the last one took place in June 2020, when the Anguilla Progressive Movement came to power. On Election Day, voters will choose one candidate in their single-member district and up to four candidates in the island-wide district, for a total of eleven members of the Anguilla Assembly.
The electoral districts are as follows:
1. Island Harbour, 2) Sandy Hill, 3) Valley North, 4) Valley South, 5) Road North, 6) Road South, and 7) West End. A detailed map is available here.
To be eligible to vote, you must be a citizen of Anguilla, have resided in the territory for a specified period prior to the election, be at least 18 years old, and be registered to vote. Votes will be counted at 8:30 p.m. on February 26, at the Assembly building in The Valley. The candidates who receive the most votes in each constituency, as well as the four highest-ranking island-wide candidates, will be elected. The full text of the election law can be found here.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article provides impartial coverage of political activities leading up to the 2025 general election in Anguilla and does not constitute an endorsement of any party or candidate.
