U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections
| U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Four years |
| Authority: | 17 U.S. Virgin Islands Code Title 18, Chapter 3 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
| Florine Audain Hassell, Lawrence Boschulte, Chaneel Callwood, Nathan Fletcher, Kareem Francis, Cornelius JnBaptiste, Shikima Jones, Michael Joseph, Barbara LaRonde, Harriet Mercer, Lilliana Belardo De O'Neal, Cleopatra Peter, Atanya Springette, Raymond Williams | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Other U.S. Virgin Islands Executive Offices | |
| Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Education | |
The U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections is responsible for overseeing the registration of electors and conducting primaries and elections. It is composed of fourteen elected members, seven from each district––the district of St. Croix and the district of St. Thomas/St. John.[1][2]
Current officeholders
Authority
The U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections' authority and jurisdiction are established in 17 U.S. Virgin Islands Code Title 18, Chapter 3.[2]
|
(a) There is a single Board of Elections that governs both election districts. |
Qualifications
Candidates for the 14 elected members of the board must be:[3]
- A U.S. citizen.
- At least 21 years old.
- A resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands for at least three years immediately preceding the date of the election.
Elections
The board is composed of 14 voting members, seven from each district––St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John––who are elected in partisan elections in each of the two election districts. The St. Thomas/St. John Board shall include at least two members who are St. John residents. No more than four members of the same political party may represent a district, including individuals who are unaffiliated with any political party. Each member serves a staggered four-year term beginning on the first Monday after the first day of January following the election.[1][2]
2024
St. Croix District
General election
General election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District (4 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lilliana Belardo De O'Neal (R) | 24.3 | 2,923 | |
| ✔ |  | Cornelius JnBaptiste (D) | 17.7 | 2,133 |
| ✔ | Michael Joseph (R) | 17.2 | 2,065 | |
| ✔ | Cleopatra Peter (R) | 14.9 | 1,793 | |
| Franz Christian Jr. (R) | 14.1 | 1,697 | ||
| Epiphane Joseph (Independent) | 11.0 | 1,319 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 105 | ||
| Total votes: 12,035 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District (4 seats)
Cornelius JnBaptiste, Simone James, and Anthony Mardenborough Jr. advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District on August 3, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cornelius JnBaptiste | 38.5 | 448 |
| ✔ | Simone James | 31.9 | 372 | |
| ✔ |  | Anthony Mardenborough Jr. | 28.6 | 333 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 12 | ||
| Total votes: 1,165 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Michael Joseph, incumbent Lilliana Belardo De O'Neal, Franz Christian Jr., and Cleopatra Peter advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District.
St. Thomas/St. John Districts
One seat
General election
General election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District
Nathan Fletcher defeated Amy Thomas-Lawson in the general election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nathan Fletcher (Independent) (Write-in) | 16.0 | 23 | |
| Amy Thomas-Lawson (Independent) (Write-in) | 12.5 | 18 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 71.5 | 103 | ||
| Total votes: 144 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Three seats
General election
General election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District (3 seats)
Lawrence Boschulte, Chaneel Callwood, and Barbara LaRonde won election in the general election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Lawrence Boschulte (D) | 38.1 | 3,066 |
| ✔ | Chaneel Callwood (D) | 35.2 | 2,838 | |
| ✔ |  | Barbara LaRonde (R) | 25.2 | 2,028 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.5 | 121 | ||
| Total votes: 8,053 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Angeli Leerdam (D)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District (3 seats)
Lawrence Boschulte, Chaneel Callwood, and incumbent Angeli Leerdam defeated Ida Mae Brown in the Democratic primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District on August 3, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lawrence Boschulte | 33.1 | 242 |
| ✔ | Chaneel Callwood | 28.3 | 207 | |
| ✔ | Angeli Leerdam | 27.4 | 200 | |
| Ida Mae Brown | 10.3 | 75 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 7 | ||
| Total votes: 731 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Barbara LaRonde advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Henry Arthur Jr. (R)
2022
St. Croix District
General election
General election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District (3 seats)
Incumbent Raymond Williams, Kareem Francis, and Florine Audain Hassell defeated incumbent Frederick Espinosa and Soraya Ferreras in the general election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Raymond Williams (D) | 28.8 | 3,909 | |
| ✔ | Kareem Francis (D) | 24.5 | 3,333 | |
| ✔ |  | Florine Audain Hassell (D) | 21.3 | 2,894 |
| Frederick Espinosa (R) | 12.5 | 1,705 | ||
| Soraya Ferreras (R) | 12.5 | 1,693 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 62 | ||
| Total votes: 13,596 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District (3 seats)
Incumbent Raymond Williams, Florine Audain Hassell, and Kareem Francis defeated Franz Christian Sr. in the Democratic primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District on August 6, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Raymond Williams | 34.2 | 1,432 | |
| ✔ | | Florine Audain Hassell | 24.4 | 1,022 |
| ✔ | Kareem Francis | 21.8 | 912 | |
| Franz Christian Sr. | 19.4 | 813 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 10 | ||
| Total votes: 4,189 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jeanette Guzman (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Frederick Espinosa and Soraya Ferreras advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Emerito Torres (R)
St. Thomas/St. John Districts
One seat
General election
General election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District
Incumbent Shikima Jones won election in the general election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Shikima Jones (D) | 98.6 | 5,586 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.4 | 78 | ||
| Total votes: 5,664 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Shikima Jones advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District.
Two seats
General election
General election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District (2 seats)
Incumbent Atanya Springette and incumbent Harriet Mercer defeated Jacquel Dawson and Todd Hecht in the general election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Atanya Springette (D) | 40.6 | 4,360 |
| ✔ |  | Harriet Mercer (R) | 27.8 | 2,981 |
| Jacquel Dawson (Independent Citizen Movement) | 21.8 | 2,345 | ||
| Todd Hecht (R) | 9.1 | 980 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 67 | ||
| Total votes: 10,733 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District (2 seats)
Incumbent Atanya Springette defeated Delekah Callwood in the Democratic primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District on August 6, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Atanya Springette | 62.4 | 1,113 |
| Delekah Callwood | 36.6 | 654 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 18 | ||
| Total votes: 1,785 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Harriet Mercer and Todd Hecht advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District.
2020
St. Croix
General election
General election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District (4 seats)
Incumbent Lisa Harris-Moorhead, Lilliana Belardo De O'Neal, incumbent Glenn Webster, and incumbent Epiphane Joseph won election in the general election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Croix District on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lisa Harris-Moorhead (D) | 32.8 | 3,126 | |
| ✔ | Lilliana Belardo De O'Neal (R) | 28.4 | 2,710 | |
| ✔ | Glenn Webster (R) | 21.2 | 2,025 | |
| ✔ | Epiphane Joseph (Independent) | 16.8 | 1,602 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 69 | ||
| Total votes: 9,532 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
St. John
General election
General election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District
Incumbent Alecia Wells defeated Shena George-Esannason in the general election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Alecia Wells (Independent) | 70.5 | 3,722 | |
| Shena George-Esannason (Independent) | 28.3 | 1,496 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.2 | 63 | ||
| Total votes: 5,281 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
St. Thomas/St. John
General election
General election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District (3 seats)
Incumbent Lydia Hendricks, incumbent Arturo Watlington Jr., and Angeli Leerdam won election in the general election for U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections St. Thomas-St. John District on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lydia Hendricks (Independent) | 53.7 | 4,185 | |
| ✔ | Arturo Watlington Jr. (D) | 41.2 | 3,216 | |
| ✔ | Angeli Leerdam (D) (Write-in) | 0.6 | 43 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.6 | 356 | ||
| Total votes: 7,800 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Vacancies
In the event of a vacant seat on the board, the Board of Elections shall certify the candidate who received the next highest vote total in the immediately preceding election within 30 days. The individual must be a member of the same political party as the former member. The appointee shall serve out the remainder of the previous officeholder's term. However, when a vacancy occurs and the candidate who received the next highest vote total is not a member of the same political party as the previous officeholder, or the person who vacated the seat is unaffiliated with any political party, the Board of Elections shall certify the candidate who received the next highest vote total.[2]
Duties
Per V.I. Code title 18, Chapter 3 § 47, the U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections' powers and duties include:[1][4]
- Registering electors and conducting primaries and general elections.
- Performance of all functions related to party enrollment of electors.
- The preservation, storage, and maintenance of registers, and primary and general election equipment of all kinds.
- Issuing certificates of appointment to election officers.
- Investigating election fraud and irregularities.
- Receiving the returns of all primaries and general elections from election officers, canvassing the returns, certifying the results no later than one week following the primary or general elections, and forwarding of the results to the Supervisor of Elections.
- Sending recommendations of amendments to election laws in conjunction with the Supervisor of Elections to the Legislature.
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Compensation
According to the 17 U.S. Virgin Islands Code Title 18, Chapter 3, board members shall receive a stipend of $75 for each day or at least one-half of the time of the entire meeting in the performance of their official duties, plus necessary travel and subsistence expenses for travel from the island of residence for attendance at each meeting of the board; provided, that the stipend shall be $125 for members and $150 for the Chairman on election days, and on days on which recounts are held.[2]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Elections has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Contact info
St. CroixMailing address Physical address Phone: 340-773-1021 |
St. JohnMailing address Physical address Phone: 340-776-6535 |
St. ThomasMailing address Physical address Phone: 340-774-3107 |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Election System of the Virgin Islands, "Board of Elections," accessed August 26, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Justia "2019 US Virgin Islands Code Title 18 - Elections, Chapter 3 - Boards of Elections § 41. Board of Elections," accessed August 26, 2020
- ↑ Elections System of the Virgin Islands, "Qualifications for Offices," accessed August 26, 2020
- ↑ Justia, "2019 US Virgin Islands Code Title 18 - Elections, Chapter 3 - Boards of Elections § 47. Jurisdiction, powers and duties of boards," August 26, 2020
