General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 21 March 2018.

Electoral System

The 17 elected members of the House of Representatives  were elected in single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post. There was no fixed election date in effect in Antigua and Barbuda at this time; hence, the choice of election date is the prerogative of the Prime Minister.

Background

On 24 February 2018 Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced that Antigua and Barbuda would be going to the polls on 21 March 2018 to elect a new government. The election took place 15 months before it is constitutionally due in June 2019.

According to Browne, the polls were called early to protect the many plans his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party has programed for this year and the next. “We have an opportunity at this point to consolidate the leadership of this country, to provide investors with predictability, to prove stability, to provide continuity, and that's the main reason why we're going to the polls early,” he said.

Brown advised the Governor-General to dissolve parliament on Monday, 26 February 2018. On Tuesday February 27th, the Writ of Elections was issued. Nomination Day was set for Monday, 5 March 2018.

A total of 51, 258 Antiguans and Barbudans are eligible to vote in the 2018 general election.

Political Parties & Candidates

As in previous elections, the main political parties contesting the election will be the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) and the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP).

A total of 53 candidates contested the 21 March 2018 general election in Antigua and Barbuda. The ruling ABLP, led by Prime Minister Gaston Browne is the only party to present a full slate of 17 candidates. The main opposition, Harold Lovell-led  United Progressive Party (UPP) will contest 16, while its affiliate the Barbuda Peoples Movement (BPM) will contest one seat, Barbuda. The new Joanne Massiah-led Democratic National Alliance (DNA) registered 13 candidates, Go Green for Life (GGL) two, and Missing Link VOP (MLVOP), one. The Antigua Barbuda True Labour Party (ABTLP) led by Vere Bird III will field two candidates. Attorney-at-law Ralph Francis is the only independent candidate. | Learn more about 2018 candidates

Campaign

The main issues were the re-building and response to the 2017 Hurricane season, the Barbudan communal land ownership law, tourism resorts notably the Sandals Resorts, and a bribery scandal involving Browne. Also of note was that Barbudan electors were required to travel to Antigua to vote.

Election Observers

A CARICOM Observation Mission, along with a Commonwealth Observer Group, monitored the election day activities.

Results

The Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) led by Prime Minister Gaston Browne has won the 2018 general elections, gaining one more seat in the parliament and will retain the government in Antigua and Barbuda.  Preliminary results indicate that the ABLP has won 15 of the 17 seats in the House of Representatives.  The opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), led by former Finance Minister Harold Lovell, has won 1 seat. The Joanne Massiah led Democratic National Alliance (DNA) failed to win any seats in the 2018 election.

The Prime Minister and his new Cabinet were sworn in by Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams on 22 March 2018. | Learn more about the Second Gaston Browne Administration

Voter Turnout

Voter turnout was 76.3%.