Welcome to the Bahamas Interactive Election Map, your ultimate tool for exploring, simulating, and sharing Bahamian election scenarios! Whether you are a political enthusiast, a student, or just curious about how the numbers stack up, this guide will show you how to master the map in minutes.
1. Getting Started: The 2021 Baseline
When you first load the map, it defaults to the 2021 General Election results. You’ll see the 39 constituencies across the Bahamas color-coded by the winning party:
- 🟡 Gold/Orange: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)
- 🔴 Red: Free National Movement (FNM)
- 🔵 Cyan: Coalition of Independence (COI)
- 🟢 Green: Democratic National Alliance (DNA)
- 🔘 Grey: Independent (IND)
2. Explore the Map (Hover & Click)
The map is fully interactive. You can explore the three major regions—Nassau, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands.
- On Desktop: Hover your mouse over any constituency to see its name and current MP.
- On Mobile: Simply tap a constituency to bring up the Info Overlay.
3. Become the Strategist: Simulating Your Own Results
This is where the fun begins! You have the power to change the outcome of any seat:
- Click or Tap on a constituency.
- A Constituency Info Overlay will appear, showing the MP’s photo and current party.
- Change the Party: Use the party selector to flip the seat to a different party.
- Watch the Counter: As you change seats, the Live Seat Counter at the top of the screen updates instantly.
Goal: To form a government in The Bahamas, a party needs a majority of 20 seats. Keep an eye on the counter—once a party hits 20, they’ll be highlighted as the majority winner!
4. Navigation for Every Device
We’ve optimized the experience for everyone:
- Pinch to Zoom: Using a phone? Use two fingers to zoom in on tight clusters like Nassau or zoom out for a full view of the archipelago.
- The Sticky Counter: On mobile, the seat tally stays at the top of your screen as you scroll, so you never lose track of the “Magic 20.”
- Accessibility: If you have trouble distinguishing colors, look for the Colorblind Mode toggle to switch to a high-contrast palette.
5. Sharing Your Predictions
Found a scenario that leads to a surprising result? Don’t keep it to yourself!
- Share Button: Use the share feature to generate a unique link. When you send this link to friends or post it on social media, they will see the exact map you created.
- Reset: Want to start over? Hit the Reset to 2021 button to wipe your simulation and go back to the baseline results.
6. Why Use This Map?
- Real-Time Feedback: Instantly see how a single seat flip affects the national balance of power.
- Regional Breakdowns: See specifically how the PLP or FNM are performing in the Family Islands vs. Nassau.
- Interactive Learning: It’s the easiest way to learn the names and locations of all 39 Bahamian constituencies.
Ready to try it out? Head over to the map and start flipping seats! Who do you think will win the next election? The power is in your hands!