The Caribbean nation of Dominica is on track to begin distributing official voter identification cards before July draws to a close, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit confirmed during a press briefing with reporters Thursday.
The rollout marks a critical turning point for the country’s multi-year electoral modernization initiative, Skerrit explained, shifting the process from legislative drafting to tangible on-the-ground implementation. For years, the government has held extensive consultations with a broad range of stakeholders: national political parties, domestic civil society groups, and regional and international electoral experts, to craft a framework to update Dominica’s voting system. That work culminated in unanimous parliamentary approval of new electoral reform legislation, and the administration is now delivering on the policy commitments laid out in that bill.
“Voter ID issuance starting before the end of this month is another important milestone for our reform process,” Skerrit told journalists. This progress comes amid sustained public pushback from critics, including Gregor Nassief, owner of Secret Bay resort, and the Dominica Business Forum, both of which have questioned the Electoral Reform Commission’s capacity to independently and effectively oversee the full rollout of reform measures.
Despite the criticism, Skerrit affirmed that the process is moving forward on schedule. He noted that the ruling Dominica Labour Party has already launched outreach to its supporters, urging them to participate in the ongoing voter confirmation process that precedes ID distribution. The prime minister stressed that protecting and strengthening the country’s democratic institutions is not the responsibility of any single political group, calling on all parties, civic associations, and community organizations to join the effort to drive up participation.
“I again encourage every eligible Dominican who has not yet finished their voter confirmation to complete the process without delay,” Skerrit said. “This is a collective duty and responsibility for all of us.” He added that actions taken outside the official structured reform process cannot contribute to meaningful democratic strengthening, noting that the entire initiative is designed explicitly to reinforce the integrity of Dominica’s electoral system for all citizens.