Next Antiguan General Election

General elections are scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda on or before 18 January 2028 to elect members of the House of Representatives. The Labour Party (ABLP) has held a slim majority of seats since the 2023 election, making further gains in Parliament following the election of Rawdon Turner and the unofficial floor walk of Anthony Smith. However, the Labour Party also experienced resounding losses in the 2025 Barbuda Council election and the 2023 St. Mary's South by-election. Besides the ABLP, the United Progressive Party (UPP) and the Barbuda People's Movement (BPM), as well as various other independents and minor parties are expected to contest.

Background

Following the 2023 election, the Labour Party experienced a near loss, with the People’s Parliament alliance composed of the UPP, BPM, and independent Asot Michael winning the popular vote. The Labour Party only carried one parish, Saint John, where the vast majority of the population resides. Party leader Harold Lovell lost his contest by only a few votes, resulting in his resignation from the party leadership and the eventual rise of deputy leader Jamale Pringle.

For most of 2023, the Labour Party suffered significant losses, losing both the 2023 Barbuda Council election and St. Mary’s South by-elections in landslides. The discontent with the Labour government lasted until July 2024, when UPP MP Anthony Smith left the party and was appointed to the Labour Party government the following day. This sparked a credibility crisis for the UPP, with internal dysfunction being revealed to the public and many calls for the party leadership to resign. Following the assassination of independent St. Peter MP Asot Michael in November 2024, the Labour Party was able to emerge victorious with about three-fourths of the vote. This credibility crisis is considered to have ended with the controversial 2025 Barbuda Council election, with resulted in the BPM winning all seats up for election. The Prime Minister stated that the country was ready for a general election in a rally on 23 March 2025, and in the council election's aftermath, informal campaigning commenced.

Due to repeated delays of the 2021 census until June 2025, the Constituency Boundaries Commission had originally proposed updating constituency boundaries based on voter registration counts. The constituency boundaries have not been changed since the 1980s and constituency populations vary in the thousands.

Electoral system

As of March 2025, there are seventeen single-member constituencies in Antigua and Barbuda, with members of the House of Representatives being elected by first-past-the-post voting. There are sixteen constituencies on Antigua and one on Barbuda. In order to vote in Antigua and Barbuda, one must be an Antiguan and Barbudan citizen or the citizen of a Commonwealth country who is permanent resident in the country. One must also be aged eighteen or older and registered to vote with the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission.

Political parties

Antigua and Barbuda has a three-party system, with the Labour Party active throughout the country, the UPP being active in Antigua, and the BPM being active in Barbuda. The UPP and BPM are allied, with alignment on most political issues and previously having a coalition government from 2004 to 2014. While formerly social democratic, since independence the ABLP has been a mostly conservative party.

Campaign

Informal campaigning began on 28 March 2025. The Browne began criticising the UPP due to its credibility crisis, while maintaining a more cooperative tone with the BPM due to its recent council election victory. The UPP promised to revamp the health, tourism, and education sectors. The opposition also criticised an increase in vehicle licensing fees and low quality public utilities.

See also

* Politics of Antigua and Barbuda
* Local government in Antigua and Barbuda

References

{{Antigua and Barbuda elections

Elections in Antigua and Barbuda