Rising cost of living such as high gas prices also a concern in election that will have record number of voters
Voters in the Bahamas head to the polls on Tuesday in a hotly contested general election featuring high-profile candidates such as the former basketball champion Rick Fox.
Voters in the Caribbean archipelago are divided over concerns about immigration, especially from neighbouring Haiti, and the rising cost of living, with significant spikes in gas prices caused by war in the Middle East.
A record of more than 200,000 people have registered to vote in 41 constituencies as the governing Progressive Liberal party (PLP), the opposition Free National Movement (FNM) and the Coalition of Independents (COI) battle for control of parliament.
While third parties have historically struggled to gain parliamentary seats in the Bahamas, political observers are closely watching whether the COI, which has a strong social media presence, can build on the nearly 8,000 votes it secured in the 2021 election.
