By Demion McTair. Updated 12:36 p.m., Sunday, October 26, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The next General Election in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is anticipated before the end of the year, although it is constitutionally due in February 2026.
The two major political parties, the incumbent Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), have already begun hosting major rallies and other campaign activities ahead of the announcement of the election date.
According to Section 48(2) of the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Prime Minister has the authority to advise the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament.
Section 48(2) states, “The Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, may at any time dissolve Parliament.”
Once Parliament is dissolved, an election writ is issued specifying the Nomination Day and Polling Day.
Announcing the 2010 election date, the prime minster said the following:
“You have to give, when parliament is dissolved, I, by law, you have to give at least 10 clear days notice before nomination. Ten clear days. You know what clear days mean? The day when you dissolve, they don’t count that. The day of nomination, they don’t count that.”
This means that 10 clear days notice must be given after Parliament has been dissolved. Then, there is another calculation after Nomination Day.
Section 31(2) of the Representation of the People Act addresses this, stating, “Every writ issued… shall specify the day of nomination of candidates, the day upon which, if necessary, the poll shall be taken, being not less than fifteen and not more than twenty-one clear days thereafter…”
This means that Election Day (Polling Day) must occur not less than fifteen and not more than twenty-one clear days after Nomination Day.
Here are the dates past elections and nomination days were announced since 2005.
2005
The date of the 2005 general election was announced at a rally at Sion Hill on Sunday, 6 November.
Quoting Section 48(2) of the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves announced that he had advised His Excellency the Governor-General, (which advice was accepted) that Parliament be dissolved on Monday, 7 November 2005, and that General Elections be held on Wednesday, 7 December 2005. Nomination Day was Monday, 21 November 2005.
Outcomes
The official report published by the Electoral Office shows that the 2005 general election was won by the Unity Labour Party.
There were 91,033 registered electors and 58,039 votes cast. Of the votes cast, 57,777 were accepted while 262 were rejected. A total of 25,734 votes (44.5 percent) went to the NDP while 32,006 (55.4 percent) went to the ULP. The Green Party received 37 votes. There were 225 polling divisions across the 15 constituencies. The ULP won 12 constituencies while the NDP won three.
Election literacy tip: Polling agents representing each political party contesting a constituency must be present throughout the entire process at each polling station, including opening and checking of ballot boxes and materials, sealing of ballot boxes, and tabulation, and they must sign off on the count. Each polling station also has a police officer and a presiding officer, among others (poll clerks, etc.).
2010
The date for the 2010 general election was announced at a rally at Calliaqua Playing Field on November 14, 2010.
Nomination Day was 26 November, while Election Day was 13 December.
Outcome
The official report published by the Electoral Office shows that the 2010 general election was won by the Unity Labour Party.
There were 101,067 registered electors and 62,993 votes cast. Of the votes cast, 60,599 were accepted while 188 were rejected. A total of 30,568 votes (48.5 percent) went to the NDP while 32,099 (50.9 percent) went to the ULP.
The Green Party received 138 votes. There were 228 polling divisions across the 15 constituencies. The ULP won eight constituencies while the NDP won seven.
2015
The date for the 2015 general election was announced at a rally at Richmond Hill Playing Field, Kingstown, on Friday, 6 November.
During that rally, the Prime Minister said he had informed the Governor-General that Parliament would be dissolved on Saturday, 7 November, Nomination Day would be Friday, 20 November, and Election Day would be Wednesday, 9 December 2015.
Outcome
The official report published by the Electoral Office shows that the 2015 general election was won by the Unity Labour Party.
There were 89,527 registered electors and 65,706 votes cast. Of the votes cast, 65,504 were accepted while 202 were rejected. A total of 31,027 votes (47.3 percent) went to the NDP while 34,246 (52.2 percent) went to the ULP. The Green Party received 77 votes, while the Democratic Republican Party (DLP) received 154 votes. There were 231 polling divisions across the 15 constituencies. The ULP won eight constituencies while the NDP won seven.
2015 report: https://electoral.gov.vc/electoral/images/PDF/reports/2015_reports/2015_general_elections_report.pdf
Two election petitions were filed by the opposition New Democratic Party in the aftermath of the 2015 election in relation to the election victories in Central Leeward and North Windward, but they were dismissed by the High Court which found no evidence that the polls were conducted contrary to the law.
2020
The date for the 2020 general election was announced at a virtual rally on 8 October 2020, during the Covid-19 period.
Nomination Day was Tuesday, 20 October, while Election Day was Thursday, 5 November 2020.
Outcome
The official report published by the Electoral Office shows that the 2020 general election was won by the Unity Labour Party.
There were 98,119 registered electors and 65,687 votes cast. Of those votes cast, 65,368 were accepted while 319 were rejected. A total of 32,900 votes (50.3 percent) went to the NDP while 32,419 (49.5 percent) went to the ULP. The Green Party received 33 votes, and the lone independent candidate in South Leeward received 16 votes. There were 235 polling divisions across the 15 constituencies. The ULP won nine constituencies, while the NDP won six.
2020 Election Report: https://electoral.gov.vc/electoral/images/PDF/Report_on_General_Elections_2021.pdf
All of the elections were determined to be free and fair by all independent and reputable observer missions, and no polling agent representing any party has ever been charged with any wrongdoing.
Election literacy
Here are some questions raised as substantive questions by a High Court judge when assessing whether an election was conducted within a legal framework:
Were the ballot boxes used in the conduct of the election in compliance with the law? Were ballot papers pre-printed with the official mark? Were Form 16 statements of poll provided at the final count for all polling stations? After voting, did voters fold the ballot paper in such a manner that the initials of the presiding officer and the official mark became visible only upon opening the ballot? Did the Supervisor of Elections provide polling lists for the constituencies to the candidates in accordance with the established practice? Was there evidence of breach of secrecy? Was there evidence of partiality? Was there a failure on the part of the respondent to provide a proper paper trail for the form 16 statement of the poll?
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