A 11-member independent election monitoring team deployed by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has released a preliminary assessment confirming that Grenada’s November 5 general electoral process unfolded largely free of major disruptions, with voters able to exercise their democratic franchise in a calm, secure environment. Unveiled in an official public statement on the Saturday following polling day, the interim findings come after the cross-national team fanned out across every corner of the island nation to oversee operations.
Composed of seasoned electoral specialists drawn from Antigua and Barbuda plus seven additional CARICOM member states, the observation mission dispatched monitoring teams to 282 separate polling sites spanning both mainland Grenada and its sister isle of Carriacou, ensuring full coverage of all 15 of the country’s electoral constituencies to capture a comprehensive, representative view of voting day operations. Observers noted that nearly all polling locations opened promptly at the mandated 6 a.m. start time, with fully trained administrative staff, all required voting materials, and on-site law enforcement personnel already in position to facilitate smooth operations from the moment polls opened.
Throughout the day, voting proceeded in a peaceful, orderly manner, with mission assessors describing polling staff as sufficiently trained, consistently polite, and professionally focused on upholding electoral rules. Specialized support was made available for vulnerable demographics, including dedicated assistance for elderly electors and persons living with disabilities, while assigned polling marshals guided voters through checking their names on official electoral rolls and locating their correct designated voting stations to avoid confusion.
The mission tracked voting traffic across the monitored sites, noting a steady stream of voters during the early morning window and a renewed surge in participation in the final hours before polls closed, with a lull in turnout during midday hours. No aggregate national voter turnout estimate was included in the preliminary public statement. When polls officially closed at 5 p.m., all electors who were still waiting in line at that cutoff time were permitted to cast their ballots in full alignment with Grenada’s established electoral regulations, no one was turned away improperly.
At all monitored counting sites, sealed ballot boxes were opened publicly in the full view of party polling agents, attending members of the public, and independent observers, with the tabulation process carried out strictly in line with official procedural requirements to eliminate risks of tampering or error. The CARICOM team also separately oversaw the November 2 advance polling operation arranged exclusively for personnel of the Royal Grenada Police Force, and confirmed that no notable irregularities or disruptions emerged during that pre-poll phase either.
Heading up the observation mission is lead delegate Herman St. Helen, who extended formal commendations to every stakeholder that contributed to the well-run election, including frontline election administrative staff, on-duty police officers, registered political parties, their appointed polling agents, and the broader electorate for their responsible, respectful conduct across the entire voting period. The team has confirmed that a full, final report packed with granular, detailed operational findings and targeted, actionable recommendations to strengthen future electoral processes will be formally submitted to CARICOM’s Secretary-General over the coming weeks.
CARICOM observers say Grenada elections peaceful and orderly
