WASHINGTON, United States (CMC)—The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) has recommended a series of reforms aimed at strengthening elections in The Bahamas following the recent general election.

The mission, led by former St Kitts and Nevis diplomat Sherry Tross, called for the establishment of an independent electoral body separate from government control and urged greater financial, technical and human resource support for the Parliamentary Registration Department.

Among the recommendations were the introduction of an electronic results transmission system, expanded use of biometric voter cards, online voter verification tools and stronger cybersecurity protections for electoral data.

The mission also urged reforms to improve transparency, poll worker training and dispute resolution procedures, while calling for campaign finance legislation, including limits on anonymous and foreign donations.

The OAS delegation further recommended measures to increase women’s participation in politics and address gender-based political violence.

The country’s Prime Minister Philip Davis was re-elected for a second consecutive term in the May 12 polls.