As Antigua and Barbuda prepares for its upcoming 2026 general elections, 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: a total ban on the sale and distribution of all alcoholic beverages while voting stations are open.
Citing clear statutory authority from Section 27 of the nation’s Representation of the People Act, which falls under Chapter 379 of the country’s legal code, the commission clarified that the prohibition covers far more than just commercial sales. The regulation extends to any offering of alcohol for purchase, as well as the free distribution of intoxicating liquor, at any licensed drinking or sales establishment located within any electoral constituency across the country for the entire duration that polls are open.
The timeframe of the ban runs directly from the moment voting stations open in the morning to their official closing in the evening on election day. Commission officials emphasized that the restriction is not a new measure, but a longstanding rule designed to preserve public order, protect the integrity of the voting process, and prevent voter influence or disorder that could arise from alcohol consumption near polling sites.
Authorities have also issued a clear warning to the public and business owners that violations of this electoral law are considered criminal offences. Any individual found breaching the ban will face prosecution through a summary conviction process, with penalties reaching as high as a Eastern Caribbean $3,000 fine, or up to 12 months of imprisonment, depending on the nature of the violation.
In closing, the Electoral Commission has called on all license holders, business owners, and members of the general public to adhere fully to this regulation to guarantee that the 2026 general election proceeds smoothly, peacefully, and in full compliance with national electoral laws.