| Election Name: | 2013 Barbadian general election |
| Country: | Barbados |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2008 Barbadian general election |
| Previous Year: | 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2018 Barbadian general election |
| Next Year: | 2018 |
| Turnout: | 62.02% (1.52%) |
| Seats For Election: | 30 seats in the House of Assembly |
| Majority Seats: | 16 |
| Election Date: | 21 February 2013 |
| Leader1: | Freundel Stuart |
| Leader Since1: | 23 October 2010 |
| Party1: | Democratic Labour Party (Barbados) |
| Leaders Seat1: | St. Michael South |
| Last Election1: | 20 seats, 52.5% |
| Seats1: | 16 |
| Seat Change1: | 4 |
| Popular Vote1: | 78,851 |
| Percentage1: | 51.3% |
| Swing1: | 1.2% |
| Leader2: | Owen Arthur |
| Leader Since2: | 18 October 2010 |
| Party2: | Barbados Labour Party |
| Leaders Seat2: | St. Peter |
| Last Election2: | 10 seats, 47.1% |
| Seats2: | 14 |
| Seat Change2: | 4 |
| Popular Vote2: | 74,121 |
| Percentage2: | 48.2% |
| Swing2: | 1.1% |
| Prime Minister | |
| Before Election: | Freundel Stuart |
| Before Party: | DLP |
| After Election: | Freundel Stuart |
| After Party: | DLP |
General elections were held in Barbados on 21 February 2013. They were the first post-independence elections where the election date was announced five years after the last general election.[1] The ruling Democratic Labour Party was re-elected with a reduced majority, winning 16 of the 30 seats in the House of Assembly.[2]
According to the Constitution of Barbados, elections must take place no longer than every five years from the first sitting of Parliament.[3] The last general election was held on 15 January 2008, while the first sitting of the current session of Parliament was held on 12 February 2008.[4] After the dissolution of Parliament, the Governor-General of Barbados, on behalf of the Crown in Right of Barbados, must issue a writ for a general election for members to the House of Assembly and for appointment of Senators to the Senate within 90 days.[5]
The election and nomination dates were announced by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on 29 January 2013. The nomination deadline for candidates to register was scheduled for 6 February 2013.[6] [7] [8] [9]