[2.1] St. Kitts and Nevis became independent on 19th September 1983. The general election of 25th October 2004 was the sixth since independence following on such elections in 1984, 1989, 1993, 1995 and 2000.

[2.2] The National Assembly Elections Act, Chapter 162 divides St. Kitts and Nevis into 11 electoral districts for the purpose of federal elections. Each electoral district constitutes one constituency and each constituency elects only one member to the National Assembly.

[2.3] On the last occasion reforms were made to the system in 1983 and 1984, the Government introduced continuous voter registration, changes were made to the electoral boundaries, and a residency requirement to be eligible to be registered was removed.

[2.4] When the above-mentioned amendments were brought before the National Assembly, serious concerns were raised over the removal of the residency requirement and other issues. However, irrespective of the concerns raised the reforms were passed into law without consultation among social partners or political parties.

[2.5.1] The revised electoral system of 1983 and 1984 was used during the general elections of 1984, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, and 2004. In 1993, 1995, and 2004, Commonwealth Observers were invited to observe those elections, after which, that entity submitted a report. In its 2000 general elections manifesto, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party proposed (on page 39), to overhaul the voters’ list to eliminate any perception of fraud and to encourage the introduction of an I.D. card system. There were no other proposals for Electoral Reform by any other political party in manifestos during that election year.

[2.6.1] Since 2000, the Government appointed a Parliamentary Constitutional and Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee made up of representatives of political parties with representation in the National Assembly. Parties represented in the National Assembly at that time (2000) included the Concerned Citizens Movement, the Nevis Reformation Party, and the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party.

[2.7] After the 2004 general elections, the People’s Action Movement regained a one-seat membership in the National Assembly and was subsequently included as a member of the Parliamentary Constitutional and Electoral Reform and Boundaries Committee.

[2.8] The ‘Report of the Commonwealth Assessment Mission’ outlines the conclusion of a series of consultations it held with key stakeholders, including the three St Kitts-based political parties, the two Nevis-based parties, the Supervisor of Elections, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, representatives of the media, representatives of civil society and other groups. These meetings provided the Mission with information on the electoral process, the overall political and electoral environment, the conduct of campaigns, and issues with respect to the current electoral arrangements.