Statia voters head to polls March 17 for two elections

ST. EUSTATIUS--Voters on St. Eustatius will go to the polls on Wednesday, March 17, 2027, to elect members of the Island Council and the Electoral College, with preparations already underway for the two elections.

Although both elections will take place on the same day, they serve different purposes and have different voter eligibility requirements. The Island Council election determines who will represent residents in Statia’s local government, while the Electoral College election gives eligible Dutch nationals on the island an indirect voice in the composition of the Dutch Senate.

The Island Council is Statia’s elected representative body and deals with matters affecting the island, including the local budget, infrastructure, housing, public services, economic development, the environment and other areas of local government.

A significant change will take effect with the 2027 election, when the number of Island Council seats increases from five to seven. The seven members elected in March will serve a four-year term from 2027 to 2031.

To vote in the Island Council election, a person must be 18 years or older on election day and be a resident of St. Eustatius on the day of candidate nomination, February 1, 2027. Dutch nationality is not required to participate in the Island Council election.

Non-Dutch nationals may also vote, provided they have legally resided in the Netherlands for at least five years and meet the other eligibility requirements.

The Electoral College election has a different purpose and different eligibility rules. Voting in that election is limited to eligible Dutch nationals. Voters elect members of Statia’s Electoral College, whose members later participate in the election of the Dutch Senate, known as the Eerste Kamer.

This means residents do not directly elect members of the Dutch Senate. Instead, eligible Dutch voters elect Statia’s Electoral College members, who subsequently cast votes in the Senate election.

The Senate considers national legislation that can also have consequences for St. Eustatius, including legislation related to taxation, social security, healthcare, education, drinking water and electricity, justice and public administration.

Polling stations on Statia will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. local time on election day. Eligible voters will receive their voting card at their home address no later than 14 days before the election. The voting card can be used at any polling station on the island.

Preparations will continue over the coming months, including the registration of political organizations and the nomination of candidates wishing to participate in the elections.

New political organizations seeking to register a party name, officially referred to as a designation, for the 2027 elections must submit their registration request no later than Monday, December 21, 2026. Under the applicable rules, a party name registered for the Island Council election may also carry over to the Electoral College election.

Registering a party name does not automatically mean a political party will participate in the election. All parties intending to contest the elections must also submit a valid list of candidates.

The formal day of candidate nomination is Monday, February 1, 2027. Beginning January 11, 2027, the required nomination forms and related information will be made available.

The Statia Government will provide additional information in the months leading up to election day, including details on the election process, political party registration, candidate nomination, voter eligibility, voting cards, polling stations and other information residents will need before casting their ballots.

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