Preliminary results will come in after 7 tonight. For up-to-date election results, visit www.elections.gov.lc.

Voters went to the polls today for the Saint Lucia general election. Polls opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 6 p.m. Preliminary results will come in after 7 tonight. Results are regarded as preliminary until the morning of the day succeeding the election, when returning officers perform a final count and publicly declare the winning candidates.

Here's a quick guide to today's elections.

Stages of the Electoral Process

Each voter (also called an elector) receives a form shortly before an election in their constituency and this gives the location of their polling station. Each elector presents his/her identification card to officials at the polling station, who checks off the name of the voter against the electoral register and issue them with a ballot paper. Electors vote by putting a cross on the ballot form against the name of the candidate they want to represent them and then placing the ballot paper in a sealed box.  (Any other mark or comment on the paper renders it invalid.) When polling closes, the ballot boxes are collected from each polling station in the constituency and taken to a central point. There, the seals are checked before the boxes are opened and the votes for each candidate are counted. When the counting finishes, the results of voting in that constituency are announced by the returning officer, who declares the winner of the election.

Counting the Ballots

At the close of the poll, in the presence of the poll clerk and the candidates or their agents, the presiding officer counts the number of voters whose names appear in the poll book as having voted, counts the spoiled ballot papers (if any) and the unused ballot papers and checks this total against the number of ballots supplied by the returning officer, to ascertain that all ballot papers are accounted for. He or she then opens the ballot box and counts the votes for each candidate, giving full opportunity to those present to examine each ballot paper, and finally displaying the empty box. The poll clerk and not less than two witnesses are supplied with tally sheets on which to keep their own tabulation. The presiding officer rejects any ballots that have not been supplied by him; that have not been marked for a candidate or are marked for more than one candidate; or are marked such that the voter can be identified. The presiding officer records on a form in the poll book any objections made by the candidates or their agents to a ballot paper and decides on any question arising from such an objection; this decision is subject to possible reversal by the returning officer or on petition questioning the election or return.

The presiding officer lists the votes given to each candidate and the rejected ballots, putting each into different envelopes, which are signed and sealed.  Immediately after the completion of the count, the presiding officer and poll clerk take an oath that the poll book contains a true and exact record of the vote at the polling station and that they have faithfully performed their duties under law. They then make several copies of the Statement of Poll: one is attached to the poll book, one is retained by the presiding officer, and one is given to the returning officer in a sealed envelope. Finally, the election officials and no more than one agent for each candidate accompany the sealed ballot box and other election materials to the Returning Office.  Results are regarded as preliminary until the morning of the day succeeding the election, when returning officers perform a final count and publicly declare the winning candidates.

Recounts
If the result is close then either candidate can demand a recount. The Returning Officer will advise the candidates of the figures and sanction a recount. Recounts can continue until both candidates and the Returning Officer are satisfied with the result.

After the Results

When all of the results are known the Governor General will usually invite the leader of the party winning the most seats in the House of Assembly to be Prime Minister and to form a Government.

Related Links

Log in to view real time election results here.

For detailed information on the electoral process visit the Saint Lucia Electoral Department.

Download the attached PDF for a list of nominated candidates.