Roughly 7,250 polling stations have been identified across the island for the upcoming General Election. This is a significant increase over the number of polling stations that were used in the local government election last year.
There is also a major increase in the number of candidates on the ballot.
On Nomination Day, 189 candidates, spread across four registered parties and independent contestants, completed the constitutional process.
Both the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) will contest all 63 constituencies, while the Jamaica Progressive Party, which has been merged with the Jamaica First Movement, had 47 candidates nominated. Jamaica’s third official party, the United Independents Congress of Jamaica (UIC Jamaica), will have seven of its candidates contesting the election, while there are nine independent candidates overall who will have their names on the ballot for a chance to become Members of Parliament for constituencies in St Thomas, St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St Catherine, and St Andrew.
There was much fanfare across the island as supporters marched with their selected candidates to nomination centres that were established in all 63 constituencies. The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has declared the day a success and is now preparing for August 29, when persons under the category ‘Special Services’ will be casting their votes.
Under the Representation of the People Act, provisions are made for Election Day workers and members of the police and military forces to cast their vote ahead of the rest of the population, to ensure they are available for duty on Election Day. About 50,000 persons are eligible to cast early ballots.
The EOJ’s preparation process for the polls includes the printing of the ballots and the voters’ list that will be used on Election Day, along with the finalisation of the distribution of supplies across the island.
“We are pretty advanced, and we should complete [the preparations] and be ready for September 3,” Director of Elections Glasspole Brown told JIS News.
Meanwhile, six candidates were nominated for the Local Government by-elections in Denham Town, Chancery Hall, and Olympic Gardens, which will be held on the same day as the General Election.
Independent – 9
Jamaica Labour Party – 63
Jamaica Progressive Party – 47
People’s National Party – 63
United Independents’ Congress – 7
