As Antigua and Barbuda prepares for its upcoming national election, the country’s independent Electoral Commission has issued a formal public reminder of a long-standing legal restriction that will be strictly enforced on polling day: no alcohol can be sold, offered, or distributed to any person while voting stations are open.
This prohibition is not an emergency ad-hoc measure; it is rooted in the island nation’s Representation of the People Act, which codifies rules to safeguard the integrity of electoral processes. The ban applies uniformly to all alcohol-licensed business establishments located within every voting constituency across the country, and it remains in effect for the full 12 hours that polls are open, from 6 a.m. when voting begins to 6 p.m. when stations close.
The Electoral Commission has underlined that violations of this electoral law carry serious legal consequences. Any individual or business found to be breaking the ban may be prosecuted, with penalties including fines reaching as high as $3,000 or a custodial sentence of up to 12 months, or both, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
Officials note that this alcohol restriction is one of a suite of proactive regulations designed to foster a calm, orderly, and fully lawful voting environment for all eligible citizens across Antigua and Barbuda. By limiting alcohol access during polling hours, authorities aim to prevent disorderly conduct, intimidation of voters, and other disruptions that could undermine the fairness of the electoral process. As election day approaches, the Commission is calling on all licensed alcohol vendors, business owners, and members of the general public to adhere fully to this regulation to support a smooth, credible election.