ABEC Chairman Ambassador Arthur G. B. Thomas
The Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), Ambassador Arthur G. B. Thomas, participated in the XIX Inter-American Meeting of Electoral Management Bodies, held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 11 to 13 November 2026.
Convened by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Dominican Republic’s Central Electoral Board, the meeting brought together electoral authorities and specialists to examine challenges affecting electoral administration, institutional independence and public confidence across the Americas.
The conference was important to ABEC because it provided an opportunity to learn from the experiences of electoral authorities across the region and to consider how emerging challenges may affect the administration of elections in Antigua and Barbuda. It also enabled the Commission to engage with regional counterparts and specialists on practical approaches to strengthening electoral preparedness, transparency and public trust.
Discussions addressed political and electoral financing, the use of technology, institutional resilience, strategic planning, and the effects of artificial intelligence and information manipulation on electoral processes.
A central theme was the importance of preparing throughout the electoral cycle, rather than responding only when difficulties arise. Presenters emphasised sound contingency planning, cooperation between institutions and timely public communication as essential elements of resilient electoral administration.
The technology panel examined how electoral bodies can provide meaningful transparency and independent verification while protecting ballot secrecy, personal information and critical systems. Speakers highlighted the need to define the purpose of a proposed technology, establish how its accuracy can be demonstrated and maintain workable alternatives if systems fail.
The meeting also explored the opportunities and risks associated with digital political financing, including crowdfunding and cryptoassets. Discussions focused on donor identification, transparency, reporting and cooperation with competent regulatory authorities.
Sessions on disinformation considered how artificial intelligence can increase the speed and reach of misleading content, and how emotions, identity and cognitive biases influence the way people receive information. The discussions underscored the value of clear voter education, accessible official information and careful, evidence-based responses to misleading claims.
The programme included the launch of an initiative to strengthen the resilience of electoral management bodies in complex political contexts, with proposed resources and training to support institutional preparedness.
The knowledge and experiences shared at the meeting will assist ABEC in considering approaches suited to Antigua and Barbuda’s electoral system, legal framework and institutional responsibilities.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: ABEC Chairman Participates in Regional Meeting on Electoral Integrity and Emerging Challenges.