A strong majority of respondents in an informal online poll say Antigua and Barbuda should require national debates ahead of general elections, signalling growing public demand for greater scrutiny of political candidates.

The poll, conducted on the Pineapple Express 268 Facebook page, found that 93 percent of participants supported mandatory debates, with 88 percent strongly in favour. Only a small minority opposed the idea, while a few remained undecided.

The results point to a recurring concern among voters — that elections are often decided without candidates being publicly tested against each other in a structured setting.

Some participants pushed back on the idea. One commenter dismissed debates as ineffective, arguing that most voters have already made up their minds. She also questioned the cost of hosting such events, suggesting they may amount to little more than an expensive exercise with limited real impact.

A second poll on the same platform highlighted a different but related issue — voter behaviour when dissatisfaction with candidates arises. In a scenario where a preferred party’s candidate underperforms, 86 percent of respondents said they would choose not to vote at all. Far fewer indicated they would switch allegiance or vote based on overall party performance.

The findings suggest a segment of the electorate that is reluctant to cross party lines but equally unwilling to support weak candidates — a dynamic that could influence close constituency races.

While the polls are informal and reflect a limited online audience, they point to an electorate increasingly seeking accountability while grappling with disillusionment about the political process.