As vote counting progresses in the St. John’s Rural West (SJRW) constituency by-election, partial results released midway through the tallying process show a clear early lead for candidate Michael Joseph of the Antigua-Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP).
With 65 percent of all ballots cast already processed by election officials, Joseph has secured 1,223 valid votes so far. His main challenger, United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate Richard Lewis, trails the frontrunner with 903 counted valid votes to his name. Independent candidate Nigel Bascus has only captured 2 votes in the partial count, while 5 ballots have been formally rejected for failing to meet electoral validity standards.
In total, 5,709 voters are officially registered to cast ballots in this SJRW constituency contest. Election workers continue to process the remaining uncounted ballots, with full final results expected to be released once all votes are verified and tallied. The outcome of this contest will shape the current legislative representation for the constituency, making the remaining counting process a closely watched event for both major political parties and local voters.