The primary ballot order is set for incumbents, first-time candidates and returning aspirants hoping to be the Virgin Islands’ next Delegate to Congress, governor, senator or board member overseeing the territory’s elections or schools. The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 1.
Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes said the Virgin Islands has long used a numbered ballot system, allowing voters to identify candidates by number as well as by name. While many U.S. states do not use numbered ballot positions in the same way, the system has remained a familiar feature of territorial elections even as voting technology has evolved.
In previous elections, party symbols appeared alongside candidate names, but those design elements have largely been phased out as ballot layouts and election equipment have changed. Candidate numbers, however, remain a prominent feature on ballots and in campaign materials.
Fawkes emphasized that the casting of lots affects only ballot order and does not impact a candidate’s eligibility. The numbering sequence is organized by contest and resets for each race. She said the system helps voters identify their preferred candidates, many of whom are widely recognized by their ballot numbers during election season.
In the race to determine the territory’s next delegate, Emmett Hansen — a former Virgin Islands National Committeeman, Democratic State Chairman and senator — drew the first lot. Former U.S. Attorney Delia Smith came in second, followed by Government House’s Washington representative, Teri Helenese. Former Sen. Janelle Sarauw drew the fourth lot.
Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach and Sen. Novelle Francis Jr., who are running to be the territory’s next governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, drew the first lot in their race. They were followed by Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett and Milton Potter’s ticket. Former Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory and running mate Rodney Moorehead drew the third lot.
The ballot order for Senate candidates from the St. Thomas-St. John district will be: Kashief Hamilton, Carla J. Joseph, Marvin Blyden, Lawrence Boschulte, Peter Bailey, Avery Lewis, Shenelle Fina Francis, Michael Smith, Mayard Leader, Joel Browne Connors, Ray Fonseca and Rudel Hodge Jr.
The district’s Education Board candidates, from first on the ballot to last, will be Arah Lockhart, Michelle Cawthron, D’Vonte Xavier and Judy Gomez. Kevin Rodriguez’s name will be the first to appear on the ballot for candidates to the Elections Board, followed by Barbara Petersen and Atanya Springette.
On St. Croix, the order for senate candidates was set at: Hubert Frederick, Clifford Joseph, Dwight Mike Cartier, Lynda Nikki Brooks, Kurt Vialet, Jose Besse Gonzalez, Lisa Charles, Nemmy Williams-Jackson, Omar B. U. Henry and Kenneth Gittens.
Mojania Mo Denis drew the first lot for the Education Board in that district, followed by Terrence Joseph, Christopher Jacobs Jr. and Winona Hendricks.
The group of candidates who cast their lots at the V.I. Elections System office on St. Croix included seasoned lawmakers and first-time hopefuls seeking to bring fresh perspectives to the territory’s government.
Mojania Mo Denis and Christopher Jacobs Jr., both of whom are running for a seat on the Education Board, spoke to the Source about the need for candidates who understand the challenges and opportunities young Virgin Islanders have. Denis, a graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex, said he considers himself a successful product of the island’s public school system but that many of his counterparts were not able to realize their full potential.
“I believe it’s important for the Board of Education to have a younger perspective — a perspective that is closer to the reality that students experience today,” he said. “We have good, esteemed individuals on the board, and I’m very grateful for their support and their experience, but I think we need to combine that institutional knowledge that they have with a modern perspective that is more aligned — and more in tune — with the current realities of our world today.”
Other candidates, like Senate Majority Leader Kurt Vialet, hope to continue work they’ve already started during their time in office. Vialet told the Source that if reelected, he intends to do more to help people who have special needs and the territory’s growing aging population.
“There’s such a void as to how we can better serve that population,” he said. “The lack of living assisted facilities, the number of individuals that have dementia or Alzheimer’s, the large, growing population of caregivers that are just burnt out — so I’m really looking as to how we can do a better job in those areas, or how we could provide some type of relief.”
Fawkes urged residents to pay close attention to the election calendar, particularly upcoming deadlines for voter registration and absentee voting.
She said the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming election is July 2 and encouraged residents to ensure their registration is active.
“If you’re inactive, become active,” she said, urging voters to check their status ahead of the deadline.
Fawkes encouraged residents to verify their registration status using the Elections website’s voter lookup tool, which allows users to search by name, year of birth and ZIP code.
“We got a lot of information on our website too. We encourage people to go on the website and look it up,” she said.
She said absentee ballot applications will be available beginning June 2 for voters who expect to be off-island during early voting or on Election Day, as well as for military and overseas voters. Local residents may also request absentee ballots.
According to an email from Fawkes, former Board of Elections member Lydia Hendricks will replace Member Lawrence Boschulte.
In a separate update, the email said Jaylen Gabriel of St. Croix has been disqualified after not returning nomination papers with the required number of signatures by the 5 p.m. deadline.
