Enumeration is the process by which Enumerators go from house to house within the Community during an Enumeration Year to obtain the names of eligible persons who can vote in order to compile the voters’ list. The most recent enumeration was conducted between June 1 and August 31, 2023.

An Enumeration year is the last year in each successive quinquennial period i.e. recurring every five years. The last Enumeration year occurred in 2023.

An Enumerator is a person appointed by the Registering Officer and who after taking an Oath has the legal right to enter an individual’s premises to obtain the name, address, and occupation of every person inside that household who has reached the age of 18 years and is therefore eligible to vote.

An Enumerator is assigned to a specific Polling Division and can be identified by the badge that he wears. The badge must have the name of the Enumerator and be signed by the Supervisor of Elections. The Enumerator must not enter a person’s premises without wearing the Enumerator’s badge. The Enumerator can only enter a person’s premises during daylight unless the occupier of such premises grants permission for him to enter at any other time.

An election is the process by which citizens who are registered to vote cast their ballots on polling day in order to choose members of Parliament who will govern the nation. Constitutionally, elections in Montserrat take place every five years. The next election is due in 2024.

An election could be called earlier for a variety of reasons, including the death or resignation of a member of Parliament, or if the current government believes it is in their best interests to call it earlier than is lawfully required. If an election is called early for any of the reasons listed above, the election is known as a bi-election. If, on the other hand, the election is called within the constitutionally mandated time frame, it is referred to as a General Election.

Nomination Day is the designated day on which individuals who want to run as candidates in an election are nominated before the Returning Officer.

Polling Day is the day fixed for voting at an election.

Any registered voter can be a candidate.

A ballot box is one that is made of durable material, has a narrow opening at the top, and is used to collect, store, and secure under lock and key the ballots cast by voters in an election.

A ballot paper is the official document used by the voter to mark their X for their selected candidate or candidates.

After the end of the count on Election Day, the Electoral Office releases the names of the nine candidates who received the majority of the votes.

A Polling Division is the sub-division of a particular geographical area whereas a Polling Station is an assigned building or section of a building where persons go to cast their vote.

This is the legal document that gives written instructions/information as it relates to an election. It is issued by the Governor under the Public Seal of Montserrat to the Returning Officer.

The "Count" refers to the process by which the Returning Officer is authorized to open the ballot boxes and count the number of votes cast for each nominated candidate in order to ascertain their election to office.

An eligible voter can cast their vote (x) for up to and no more than nine persons on the ballot paper.

The eligible age for voting is 18 years.

Persons who were not enumerated and have become qualified to vote or feel that they are qualified to vote must complete the “Continuous Voter Registration” form.

The voters' list is posted in the Electoral Office, the Court House, the Public Library, and designated public buildings within each Polling Division.