New Voter ID Cards Ready October 11

Beginning October 11, electors will be able to collect their new voter identification (ID) cards from Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) constituency offices across the island.

Announcement of the distribution of the new voter ID cards was made by the Director of Elections, Glasspole Brown, at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, where he provided details about the voter ID renewal exercise.

“Because of the issue with COVID-19 we have sought to distribute the cards on different days, based on last names,” said Mr. Brown.

Persons with surnames from A-E can collect their cards on Mondays; F-K on Tuesdays; L-P on Wednesdays; Q-T on Thursdays, and U-Z on Fridays. The EOJ constituency offices will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays and from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.

“In going to the different locations to pick up your new ID cards, we require of you to allow the process to flow very smoothly, that you bring along your old voter ID card and the receipt that was given to you at the point of applying for the renewal of your card. If you do not have any of those, you can still visit our offices as we have different ways and means to check and verify who you are to be able to deliver the ID cards to you,” explained the Director of Elections.

In the event that an elector cannot recall where they had indicated they would collect their new voter ID card, there are a number of ways to find out before going to collect. You can visit the ECJ website at ecj.com.jm/query, call the EOJ Head Office toll-free at 888-991-VOTE (8683) or follow their social media pages @ecjamaica.

In 2019, the EOJ embarked on the ongoing voter ID renewal exercise, which encourages electors to visit constituency offices and renewal sites to renew voter ID cards that were issued in 2015 and earlier. This was in anticipation of the expiry of current Voter ID cards on December 31, 2021 and the distribution of the new Voter ID cards.

Mr. Brown also encouraged persons who have not yet applied to renew their voter ID cards to do so soon.

“Individuals who have not yet applied for the renewal, we urge you to do so because come the 31st of December, the current cards that you have in the system will no longer be valid. They will not be accepted by any of the business sector or any government agencies and, therefore, it is important that if you have not done so, that you visit our offices and seek to get your ID cards renewed,” he pleaded.