Follow the Compass’ real-time coverage of Cayman’s 2025 general election.
Refresh for updates
Update at 5:15pm: Last chance to vote
For those that have waited till the last minute, the window is closing. There are just 45 minutes left till the polls close.
Most people seem to have got out and voted early. Turnout was already at 68% at 5pm, so close to the final figure of 73% from 2021. The Sister Islands constituencies are both already around 80% turnout in what we expect to be two significant races in terms of the final result.
Update at 4:55pm: Dry Wednesday across Cayman
For those who have already voted and just looking to enjoy the holiday with a cold beer in the sun, you’re out of luck. Cayman’s election rules mean all bars and liquor stores have been closed all day, so unless you were well prepared it’s been a dry day.
That changes at 7pm – one hour after the polls close – so whomever you support, you will be able to raise a glass to victory or drown your sorrows as the results come in (Editor’s note: Drink responsibly, people).
Update at 4:45pm: CompassTV live election night coverage
Stand by for the start of our live television coverage of election night. Tammi Sulliman will go live with a 5pm update and take you through to the close of play tonight, by which time we will have a new government – or at least 19 new MPs.
Pundits Mario Ebanks, who almost toppled McKeeva Bush in 2021, James Whittaker (the solar energy businessman and political commentator not the Compass journalist) and Chris Gourzong, of the Link-Up podcast, will be our analysts as the results come in later on. We’ll be calling the races as the results of the count comes to us.
Update at 4:20 pm: Political websites ‘go dark’
Observing the letter of the law banning election day campaigning, the three major political parties have not only pulled down their billboards, they have also taken their websites offline.
This from the CINP homepage, “Our website is temporarily down for Election Day in accordance with Cayman Islands Election regulations. We will be back 1 May.”
The Progressives and The Caymanian Community Party are also offline.
Update at 4pm: Governor happy to see ‘free and fair’ election
The governor and deputy governor have been touring polling stations throughout the day and have declared themselves happy with how the process has gone so far.
Speaking to government TV a few moments ago, Governor Jane Owen paid tribute to the 300 polling staff working across the island under the leadership of Supervisor of Elections Wesley Howell.
She said her role was to take the “30,000 foot view” and be satisfied that Cayman’s election process is free, fair and transparent, something she feels “very secure about”.
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said he was proud to see so many Caymanians coming out to exercise their democratic rights. He said he had voted early and had been keeping an eye on the process throughout the day.
He praised the professionalism of the civil service and said that no matter how they vote today, his staff would be ready to serve the next government with “professionalism, integrity and passion”.
Update at 3pm: Polling stations quieter
Compass reporters in Bodden Town West, George Town South, and Cayman Brac spoke to Chief Political Correspondent Tammi Sulliman live on CompassTV.
Across the jurisdiction, they noted the number of voters lining up to cast their ballots has started to trail off, with polling locations having seen strong turnout since 7am when stations opened.
Update at 2:20pm: Turnout passes 60%
We’ve reached 60% of registered voters having cast their ballots, as of the most recent update from the Elections Office.
Cayman Brac East leads the pack of 19 districts for largest showing so far, with 72% turnout at latest count.
Close behind, Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman stands at 66%. In 2021, the district had the lowest turnout out of the constituencies, coming in at 63% once the polls had closed.
The two districts in the Sister Islands are the smallest of the 19 constituencies.
Meanwhile, George Town West and West Bay West are showing the lowest turnout, per the most recent figures. Both constituencies have notched 55% of voters having cast ballots so far.
Polls stay open until 6pm this evening, giving the remaining eligible voters across Cayman just over three hours to have their say.
Update at 2:05pm: ‘Multiple issues with signage’
Blank billboards now abound on roadsides across the islands.
While a day ago, colourful posters of political candidates and parties could be spotted at street corners, beside highways and in front yards, now blank, white boards or stripped-bare brown plywood are all that remain.
Candidates were required to have all their campaign material taken down before midnight.
However, some signs have been left up despite what Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell calls “advance warnings and reminders” on that issue.
All signage – including referendum campaign posters – should have come down by midnight.
A separate, but related concern, surrounds candidates campaigning at the polls.
Howell said, “Another complaint coming in repeatedly is of candidates within the 300-foot boundary and hanging out too long, getting to the point where they are bordering on harassment of voters.”
Candidates are allowed inside the polling stations to visit their election agents but they are not allowed to campaign outside.
Update at 1:35pm: Governor in East End
Governor Jane Owen attended the William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre earlier on Wednesday, as voters in East End turned out to have their say.
The latest figures from the Elections Office have turnout for the district at 56%, just above overall turnout for the islands at 54%.
Voters in the constituency where five candidates are competing for the seat shared how the day had panned out with Compass team members Raymond Hainey and Philipp Richter.
A middle-aged man leaving the East End polling station just after 7am said, “I’m glad to wake up in a country where democracy is alive and well.”
One woman at the East End polling station predicted that the area – which recorded an 86.74% turnout in 2021 – would once again notch up the highest vote.
She said, “It’s nice weather – a lot of the residents are up early and voting early.”
A 24-year-old second-time voter over in the North Side constituency said, “It’s been a good turnout so far as far as I can see.”
The latest numbers indicate 61% of voters have already cast their ballots.
“It’s a beautiful day and a good atmosphere. It was a very smooth vote,” the voter stated.
Update at 1:15pm: A long walk for Prospect voters
Voting continues apace at Red Bay and Prospect in the early afternooon.
Some voters at Prospect grumbled about the long walk they had to make from where they parked, as electors were not being allowed to use the parking lot at Prospect Primary School, where voting was being held.
The walk doesn’t seem to have put too many people off, however.
At the latest count, 52% of the Prospect electorate had voted, with 59% casting their ballots in Red Bay.
Update at 1pm: Issue for voters in Cayman Brac East
Compass analysts are keeping a close eye on the five-way contest for the Cayman Brac East seat – the smallest district of the 19 in play today.
Per the 12:17pm update from the Elections Office, 63% of voters in the constituency have already voted.
And there’s a potential issue that may come into play for that pivotal result, as the Compass‘ Sarah Bridge reports.
Chevala Burke, deputy supervisor for elections and outgoing returning officer for the district told her some people weren’t able to vote as they hadn’t changed their address from Grand Cayman.
“We did have some individuals who are registered in other locations that we guided them as to where they could go… there were one or two persons who had moved over from Grand Cayman and hadn’t changed over their information with the registering officers,” she explained.
She added, “In that case they would need to speak with their registering officer and have that information changed, but those deadlines have well passed, so it would catch for the next election.”
With only 521 people eligible to vote in Cayman Brac East, small margins could have an impact on candidates’ finally tallies – and significance for the overall result.
Update at 12:50pm: Cost of living top issue for George Town East
In George Town East, where candidates Oscar Bodden (IND), Emily ‘Em’ DeCou (TCCP), Vassel ‘Bud’ Johnson (CINP), and Roy McTaggart (PPM) are facing off for the seat, voters shared with Compass reporters some of their most pressing concerns.
Abigail Bodden says cost of living is the most important factor for her as she goes to the polls.
“Affordability, our living situation is really important to address,” she told the Compass‘ Norma Connolly.
Update at 12:40pm: West Bay West voting turnout lags
The latest count from the Elections Office has turnout for West Bay West behind the other 18 constituencies, at 28% by the 12:15pm update.
West Bay South, by contrast, is up at 52% – more indicative of the numbers across the rest of Cayman.
Compass reporter Simon Boxall shared that voting in West Bay had started off briskly, but the lines have now slowed, although there is still a steady number of people passing through to cast their ballot at the polling station at the John A. Cumber Primary School.
Traffic on the road was a little congested and confused by the West Bay North location, he reported (New Testament Church of God on West Bay Road, Boatswain Bay), but at all of the four polling stations in West Bay, the people were positive about the process and exercising their democratic right.
Update at 12:15pm: Complaints and issues
While reports from voters have almost universally praised the smooth sailing voting process, Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell has shared with the Compass they are also aware of some issues so far.
These have included complaints about candidates and their agents spending too much time at polling stations, as well as some political signs remaining up – both of which are prohibited by elections rules.
Under Section 56 of the Elections Act, “no candidate and his agent, or two agents of the same candidate, shall be in the same polling station at the same time for more than fifteen consecutive minutes”.
The signs in question were posters promoting one side of the cruise referendum question, rather than candidates’ billboards.
Update at midday: Watch CompassTV live
Tune in to CompassTV’s midday update for the latest as Cayman heads to the polls.
Andrel Harris caught up with Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell who said he was pleased with turnout so far, which has seen some districts already break the 50% mark for turnout.
Howell also shared the average wait time is under 5 minutes for constituents to cast their vote.
He clarified children are not permitted within the polling station; the Compass had received conflicting reports earlier today about some people being permitted inside with children and others being prevented from doing so.
Update at 11:50am: How to fill out your ballot
The Elections Office has issued an ‘urgent bulletin’ with information for voters on how to fill out their ballot papers.
According to the missive, the ballot paper is laid out as a single page with the name of candidates for the district at the top, and the three referendum questions below.
To vote, place an X in the box to the right of your chosen candidate, and an X to the right of either “Yes” or “No” for each referendum question.
Voters are not required to vote for a candidate, if they choose not to.
Equally, they can vote on all, some, or none of the referendum questions.
However, the office cautions that the following will spoil the ballot and lead to votes not being counted in the official tally:
- Vote for one candidate only. Marking more than one candidate will invalidate your vote in that section.
- Vote once per referendum question. Marking both “Yes” and “No” will invalidate your vote for that question.
- Ballot papers that are marked in a way that could identify the voter will be rejected.
The office advises that if you accidentally spoil your ballot paper, you can return it to the presiding officer and request a replacement.
Update at 11:30am: Turnout reaches 40%
The latest count from the Elections Office puts turnout so far in this election at 41%.
That takes into account postal and mobile voting, as well as the number of people who have voted in person at their district’s polling location so far this morning.
By comparison, elections were held earlier this week in Trinidad and Tobago, which saw total voter turnout hover around the 54% mark.
According to local media reports, this is fewer votes than in the 2020 vote, when the turnout was 58% of the 1,134,136-strong electorate.
Meanwhile in Canada, Mark Carney’s Liberal Party won enough seats to form a government, where turnout according to preliminary results from Election Canada saw 69% of registered electors having voted.
Cayman Brac East is now the district with the highest turnout so far, seeing 52% of eligible voters have their say.
Update at 11:15am: Voters on the Brac share key issues
In the key seat of Cayman Brac East, voters shared with Compass reporter Sarah Bridge what some of their major priorities were when voting.
Danny Rose said education, housing, and employment were his three biggest priorities.
“The Brac is coming on in a nice way,” he shared, adding, “I’ve lived here a long time and a few years back, the Brac wasn’t like this. The Brac is moving at speed and I like it.”
He shared that once he had cast his vote, he would enjoy the rest of the day with a pot of chicken soup and watch some TV.
Update at 10:50am: Election observers visit polling locations
Rob Ward, with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association group of international election observers, and two of his colleagues were at the George Town Central polling station at Constitution Hall, when voting opened earlier this morning.
Ward told the Compass that he and other teams would be spread out across Cayman to observe the election process.
“We’ll be moving around the polling stations throughout the day and indeed across the islands… and getting a real feel for your elections as they go on today,” he said.
The observers will prepare a preliminary report which will be released at a press conference on Friday, with a final report issued within two months.
It is the fourth time an association team has observed Cayman’s elections, the last time in 2021, which was carried out remotely because of COVID-19 restrictions.
They will assess the election against international standards, commitments and obligations, as well as Caymanian laws.
Anyone who wants to assist the mission can contact them at [email protected].
Update at 10:30am: Races to watch
Compass analysis has pinpointed a number of pivotal seats to watch, that could be key to the ultimate make-up of the next government.
Cayman Brac East
The contest between Juliana O’Connor-Connolly (PPM), Dan Scott (CINP), Ruth Ann Bodden (IND), James Albert Christian (IND), and Maxine McCoy-Moore (IND) could be a serious indicator for how the wider results will pan out. The five contenders are vying for a small amount of votes in Cayman’s smallest constituency.
Prospect
The seat was too close to call in 2021 and sees all three major parties represented this time around. It’s likely to be a tight three-horse race between Sabrina Turner (TCCP), Crystal Gomez Wilson (PPM) and Michael Myles (CINP).
Update at 9:45am: Turnout surpasses 25% of electorate
According to the latest numbers from the Elections Office live reporting, updated at 9:20am, the total number of voters has now reached 6,412, which represents 25.04% of the electorate.
This includes mobile and postal votes, as well as in-person electors.
The office also notes an average 3-minute wait time across the polling stations.
Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman is still the district with the highest turnout so far, having seen 33% of eligible voters cast their ballots so far.
Cayman traditionally sees a high turnout every election, with just shy of 74% of registered voters casting their ballot in 2021 and almost 75% in 2017.
Polling agent Cheryl Rogers at the West Bay Central polling station told Compass reporter Simon Boxall the morning had been “fairly busy” with a “steady flow of voters presenting to utilise their democratic right”.
West Bay Central is currently reporting 19% of voters have cast their ballots so far.
In Bodden Town East – where the above footage was shot – the second largest constituency in Cayman has seen 24% of the electorate vote so far, the majority of whom have attended the polling station at Francine Gardner Hall (BT Primary School).
Cayman’s largest constituency is West Bay South, which is reporting 27% turnout so far.
Update at 9:15am: Report from voters in Newlands
Shanda Gallego, stationed at ICCI, said even outside the 300-foot polling station exclusion zone, a long line of voters was visible under the bright sun, to a soundtrack of Cayman parrots.
In spite of the wait, she reported voters were chatting with one another, having come prepared with umbrellas and water.
They shared the process at this polling station was smooth, without a long wait, and that families and young people had shown up.
There is police presence and extra security in the area, she added.
Speaking to the Compass, one voter said everything went well but he wished that there was a set-up for the senior citizens.
Another couple added the process was quick and they had had no issues.
The woman added she was proud and happy that she exercised her democratic right and sported her “I voted” sticker, which everyone receives once they vote.
“The process ran smoothly. It was well organised… everybody is in a good mood, seeing a lot of family, friends, and acquaintances.”
She said while there was a line, it ran quickly. “Everybody was calm, cool, and collected
The voter added, “I leave in the hands of God. I feel that there is a need for some movement and possibly to see our islands go further and better in this world and also for our future children and grandchildren to see what is going to be the Cayman Islands… that we’re going to leave a mark on this map; that we will grow in strength and unity and not division because at the end of the day, it’s our children and our grandchildren that have to live here and have to remain here and that’s important.
Update at 8:45am: Electors on the voting process so far
Voters are largely reporting the election process has been smooth so far.
In Cayman Brac East, voter Sioe Bazil reported the process was “very smooth and organised – I did what I had to do, 1 2 3 and boom, out the door”.
Gary Walton described voting in that district as “beautiful,” noting “it was a smooth as a cucumber”. He said he voted early to avoid the traffic.
Catch up with what voters had to say in Bodden Town, who also reported a voting process that “couldn’t be better”.
Update at 8:30am: Turnout between 7-8am
Andrel Harris, stationed for the Compass at GAB, shared the latest turnout figures straight from Elections HQ.
Reports from Compass team members have indicated a steady flow of voters since polls opened at 7am. The official number who have cast their votes so far between 7 and 8am is 794.
According to the official breakdown, voters on the Brac and Little Cayman have shown up in the highest numbers so far, with Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman already seeing 14.71% of voters cast their ballot.
That’s the proportion who have voted using mobile, postal or in-person options before 8am.
West Bay West has so far seen the lowest turnout, with 7.03% of the electorate having had their say before 8am.
More hour-by-hour updates from the elections office can be found here.
Update at 8:20am: Candidates among the voters
Compass reporters are stationed across the width, depth and breadth of Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, delivering live updates throughout the day.
You can follow real-time coverage throughout the day on this blog and can also tune in to live updates from CompassTV at 12pm, 3pm, and then live from 5pm until the count is done.
Watch on compasstv.ky or on Digicel+ Channel 122, Logic Channel 22, C3 Channel 22, or FLOW Channel 102.
A number of the 58 aspiring MPs have already cast their votes so far this morning, reporters across the Brac and Grand Cayman report.
Update at 7:40am: Voting under way across Cayman
Compass staff reported queues in West Bay West, Bodden Town West and Savannah as electors came out early to get their votes done early.
At Savannah Primary School, voters told Shanda Gallego the process was quick and seamless, once they entered the polling station and they didn’t have to wait long.
A number of families and young people were also showing up. Lots of police presence and extra security in the area.
Voters leaving George Town Central also reported that casting their ballots was a very smooth and organised process. Those who joined the queue shortly after 7am say it’s taking about 15 minutes to get through the line.
In East End, Compass reporters noted a steady turnout, with voters struggling to find parking spaces close to the William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre.
Update at 7am: The polls are open
Polling stations in Cayman’s 19 electoral districts are now open for voters to pick their next representatives and have their say in Cayman’s referendums.
A line of early morning voters has already formed outside Constitution Hall, in George Town Central.
Election observers were also present at the district, as voting got under way.
One voter was turned away from the polling station for wearing a shirt displaying political affiliation, which falls foul of the rules in place for election day. An attempt to cover up the T-shirt was unsuccessful, before she was eventually allowed to cast her vote…. after turning the shirt inside out!
Read this explainer from the Compass‘ Norma Connolly on these rules and everything else you need to know before heading to the polls, which will be open until 6pm this evening.
Not sure which polling station to vote at? You can see the full list of locations here.
Update at 6:40am: First indicators of turnout
As we count down to the polls opening at 7am for in-person voters, the Elections Office has shared some statistics about the number of people choosing mobile voting options.
This year, 2,382 ballots were issued through what it calls absentee (postal) and early mobile voting, representing just under 10% of all registered voters.
The office noted that “early voter turnout has already exceeded comparable figures from the last general election”.
According to an update at the close of mobile voting on Sunday, 1,345 voters had used early-voting stations across the islands.
An additional 1,037 postal ballots were issued to electors who are off-island today and unable to vote in person at a polling station.
In 2021, there were 719 mobile voters and 582 postal ballots were issued.
Update at 6:20am: Road closures on Grand Cayman
While Cayman’s roads should be quieter than usual as the islands mark a public holiday for the general election, there are some road closures to look out for.
These will be operational until midnight on Thursday, 1 May and have been put in place to ensure the 100 yard (300 ft) exclusion zone around polling stations.
George Town Central:
Fort Street will be closed between Seafarers Way and Mary Street. While Edward Street will be closed between Mary Street and Dr. Roy’s Drive. Traffic travelling northbound on Edward Street will be diverted onto Dr. Roy’s Drive.
George Town West:
There will be a partial lane closure on Smith Road between Cayman Prep School and the intersection with Huldah Avenue. The left westbound lane will be closed, and people travelling westbound (towards Walkers Road) will use the middle (turning) lane. As a result, people travelling eastbound will be unable to turn right at the traffic lights, but must continue straight towards Crewe Road.
West Bay North:
Boatswain Bay Road will be closed between Watercourse Road and Sand Hole Road.
West Bay South:
West Church Street will be closed between Elizabeth Street and West Bay Road (four-way junction).
Local access will be permitted.
Update at 6:10am: The seal is broken
CompassTV’s Andrel Harris was at the Government Administration Building where, shortly before 5am, the seal was officially broken by Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell.
Prayers were said by Elections Office staff, before ballots were loaded into waiting transport, and staff departed to their respective polling station.
They left in order, based on the length of distance they needed to travel, with eastern districts leaving first.
It’s election day in Cayman
The candidate billboards are down and the polling stations are ready to open at 7am as voters across the Cayman Islands prepare to choose a new government and vote on three issues in the referendum.
You can follow live updates throughout the day on this blog from the Compass Media team stationed across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.
You can also tune in to live updates from CompassTV at 7am, 12pm, 3pm, and then live from 5pm until the count is done.
Watch on compasstv.ky or on Digicel+ Channel 122, Logic Channel 22, C3 Channel 22, or FLOW Channel 102.
The vote
There are 58 candidates vying for 19 constituency seats. Any party or group that commands the support of at least 10 MPs will be eligible to form the next government and choose the next premier.
On top of electing a preferred candidate to represent the district as an MP, voters will also be asked to decide on three referendum questions.
These questions are:
- Should the Cayman Islands develop cruise berthing infrastructure?
- Do you support the introduction of a national lottery in the Islands?
- Do you support the decriminalisation of the consumption and possession of small amounts of cannabis?
The new government will not be bound by the results of the referendums.
Here’s how to cast your ballot
Read this explainer from the Compass‘ Norma Connolly on all you need to know before heading to the polls.
Polling stations open today at 7am and will close at 6pm.
You can only vote at your assigned polling station and you’ll need to bring a valid photo ID with you.
You vote by placing an X to the right of your favoured candidate’s name.
For the referendums, place an X in the box next to ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for each question.
Read more guidance from the Elections Office here.
Where is my polling station?
There are 19 polling stations, one for each electoral district. See the full list of locations here.
Weather forecast
Want to know the best time to vote to avoid getting too hot or caught in the rain? Simon Boxall has you covered.
The overall outlook looks set to be good, mostly dry and sunny and not too hot.
Caroline James and James Whittaker authored this blog, with updates provided by Compass Media teams stationed around Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.
