KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) is reminding electors to maintain proper conduct at polling stations when Jamaicans head to the polls for the general election on September 3.
Director of Elections Glasspole Brown stressed that polling stations must remain free of campaigning and disorder.
Director of Elections Glasspole Brown. (Photo: JIS)
“When you are at the polling station, you are not to campaign… the law does not allow for campaigning to take place. Therefore, you should not be encouraging anybody in the line to vote a particular way,” he told JIS News.
Brown also appealed for patience and compliance with presiding officers, who are responsible for managing the voting process.
“We ask persons to remain calm, remain patient and listen to the instructions of the presiding officer and abide by [them],” he said.
The EOJ is also reminding voters that cell phones and similar devices are not permitted inside polling stations.
“The process of voting must be secret. You should not be disclosing your preference for a particular candidate to anybody within the polling station,” Brown cautioned.
He further advised electors to avoid wearing clothing that promotes a candidate. While persons will not be barred from wearing party colours, garments with slogans or photographs are prohibited.
“Our preference is that you come in a neutral colour, but you won’t be turned back if you wear your party colours. However, we urge you not to wear any garment that has any written slogans or a photograph of a candidate on it,” he explained.
Brown also discouraged lingering at polling stations after casting a ballot.
“As soon as you complete the process of voting, we urge electors to vacate the compound and return home or work and await the results in the afternoon,” he said.
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