Antigua Electoral Commission prepares for by election

The Antigua & Barbuda Electoral Commission says it going ahead with preparations for a possible by election in three constituencies.



The move comes even though Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has asked for an investigation into commission.



Chairman Sir Gerald Watt says the commission has already submitted a budget to the government.



He says the commission is also preparing for a general election should the Prime Minister decide to call an early poll.



On March 31, the High Court ruled that the election of Mr Spencer, Tourism Minister John Maginley and Education Minister Jacqui Quinn-Leandro was invalid.



In her ruling, Justice Louise Blenman criticised the commission, saying that it was the incompetence of the organisation that led to the late opening of some polling stations during the general election on March 12, 2009.