On October 12, Saint Lucia observed 70 years of Universal Adult Suffrage. Adult Suffrage resulted in all adult citizens being allowed to vote regardless of wealth, gender, social status, ethnicity, political stance, or any other restriction, subject only to relatively minor exceptions. The 1951 general election which took place on Friday, October 12 was held under this new constitution.

Alymphia Lionel, the Assistant Chief Elections Officer in the Electoral Department, said: “Universal Adult Suffrage was significant because it established that every adult citizen, 21 years of age and older (which was later reduced to 18) has the right to vote in all national elections. The qualifications for registration then, were that you were able to read and write and have an annual income of at least $30.

“In 1951, we began with eight electoral districts. It was increased to 10, and then 17 districts in 1961. After the general election of 2011 there were talks of making certain divisions smaller, like Gros Islet, Babonneau and Castries south.”

Twenty-two candidates contested the most recent legislative council elections with two main parties being the Saint Lucia Labour Party and the People’s Progressive Party alongside independent candidates.

The Saint Lucia Labour Party obtained a total of 6799 votes, the People’s Progressive Party 3645, and the independent candidates, 5275 votes, amounting to some 15, 719 votes.

The total number of voters is 172, 217.