The political system of Barbados combines state institutions with electoral rules. The President, Prime Minister, Cabinet, Parliament, courts and other state authorities perform different public functions within a unitary state. Barbados has 11 parish-level administrative divisions, while elections use 30 political constituencies to select the 30 members of the House of Assembly. The two systems therefore use different boundaries and purposes: parishes support administration, while constituencies determine representation in Parliament. Barbados uses first-past-the-post, so the candidate with the most votes wins the constituency. Voters must meet the applicable residence and registration rules, show accepted identification and cast one secret ballot. Election results shape the composition of the House of Assembly and help determine which political leadership can form the government.
Politics in Barbados
Politics in Barbados covers how public power is organized and how voters choose representatives. Barbados has been a parliamentary republic since 30 November 2021 under the Constitution of Barbados, which dates from 1966. Government institutions manage public responsibilities, while elections choose members of the 30-seat House of Assembly from single-member constituencies.
Tip
Start by deciding whether your question concerns a public institution or electoral representation. Keep Barbados's parish boundaries separate from its political constituencies, and verify your registration, residence and accepted identification before relying on general voting information.