Background

Four pieces of legislation provide the E&BC with its legal and constitutional authority to conduct elections. They are the Representation of the People Act Chap. 2:01 of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (Local Government) Act, Chap. 25:50; the Municipal Corporations Act, 1990; the Elections and Boundaries Commission (Local Government and Tobago House of Assembly Act No. 40 of 1996.

The Commission comprises a Chairman and not less than two or more than four Commissioners who are appointed by the President of the Republic after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. These appointments are for five years in the first instance but under the Constitution, the appointees are eligible for reappointment.

Responsible for setting its own agenda, the Commission gives policy directions to the staff headed by a Chief Election Officer. Some members of staff are appointed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) but the Commission is authorized to recruit on a short-term basis, other persons to perform functions that are largely related to registration of electors, administrative preparations for the conduct of elections and field operations throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Some members of staff are employed on contract.

The process of registration is voluntary, personal and permanent and no one is under any legal obligation to register. The system is described as permanent, in that once a registration is completed it remains on the records of the Commission unless circumstances arise warranting its cancellation. (See Registration Process for more details)

The structure of the E&BC is based principally on a Central Electoral Office located at headquarters in Port of Spain, fifteen (15) Registration Area Offices and six (6) sub Offices. These offices are conveniently located throughout the country where persons can register to obtain their National Identification Cards and have their names included on the list of eligible electors subject to certain qualifying criteria.

Milestones in the Evolution of the Electoral System

1946	(a) Universal Adult Suffrage attained; franchise extended to persons 21 years and over; (b) Provision for a Supervisor of Election responsible for fairness and impartiality; (c) Single seat electoral districts; (d) Introduction of ballot boxes; (e) Introduction of candidates' symbols on ballot paper; (f) Mandatory time off (2 hours) to be given by employers to allow employees to vote
1956	Introduction of electoral ink
1961	Use of voting machines to record votes instead of ballot boxes
1961	Introduction of Identification Cards with photographs to be used at polling stations
1961	Registration records available at polling stations
1966	First elections conducted by the Elections Commission as provided for in the 1962 Constitution
1969 - 70	Nationwide House to House Survey
1971	No-Vote campaign by Opposition Parties
1976	The Voting Machine replaced by the ballot box
1976	Franchise extended to eighteen (18) year olds
1980	Commencement of computerization of Elections and Boundaries Commission registration records which were subsequently destroyed by fire
1985	Nation-wide House to House Survey
1985	Country-wide Registration Update
1986	Production of Computer-generated ID Cards
2001	Nation-wide House to House Survey
2003	Increase in the number of Constituencies from 36 to 41
2005	Introduction of the Electronic Voter Registration and Electoral System (Integrity)