KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) is reporting that all polling stations officially opened on Wednesday, with 99.5 percent of the stations opening on time at 7:00 am (local time) and the remainder opening before 7:30 am.
With both general and local government elections occurring concurrently, the EOJ reminded the general public to check their voter status and the location at which they are registered before heading to a polling station.
The EOJ noted that provisions were put in place to allow electors to speak with official EOJ personnel at voting locations who can verify their polling station information.
Polling stations will close on Wednesday at 5:00 pm, after which preliminary counting of ballots will begin.
Meanwhile, the local election watchdog, Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), says that while the voting process started smoothly, there have been some interesting reports that must be investigated.
According to CAFFE Chairman Grace Baston, the necessary materials were in place at 90% of the polling stations nationwide.
She said there were reports that some electronic voter identification systems were either not functioning or working very slowly, which reportedly resulted in slow-moving lines at polling stations. She also noted that, though there were reports of disruption in the voting process, the incidents were deemed minor.
She also noted that CAFFE will be probing claims that electors have been denied voting in a few areas.
Political observers say that, despite 189 candidates, including 53 women, representing four political parties and several independents, the race is a straight fight between the JLP and the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) for control of the 63-seat Parliament.
The Jamaica Progressive Party (JPP) has entered candidates in 47 constituencies, while seven nominees will represent the United Independents’ Congress (UIC).
In the 2020 general election, the JLP won 49 seats, but opinion polls predict a much tighter race this time around.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness told supporters that he is confident the party will retain a majority of the 63 seats in Parliament.
“I (will) see you (on) the night of the third as we celebrate our victory for Jamaica,” he told supporters at the rally in Spanish Town, St Catherine, adding that he believes the decision is clear for Jamaicans to make when they go to the polls.
But the PNP leader, Mark Golding, told Jamaicans that should the JLP win, “then you’ll have five years of bad government and your children will be suffering the consequences and their grandchildren as well, of that bad decision”.
Since gaining universal adult suffrage in 1944, Jamaica has held 18 general elections with both major parties winning on nine occasions each.
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