Rules to Obey on Election Day

The Local Government Election is scheduled to take place on February 26 and just like any election, there are rules to follow to make the voting process easy.

Director of Elections, Glasspole Brown, tells JIS News that persons should ensure that they walk with their identification (ID) cards, as this will allow for quicker processing.

“However, I must point out that even if you do not have your ID card, you will be allowed to vote, as long as your name is on the Voters’ List. We have several processes to be able to identify you as an elector [and] while it is important and would help the system in bringing your ID card, as long as your name is on the list you will be accommodated in voting on Election Day,” Mr. Brown states.

If a person does not have his or her ID, there are several steps that will be taken to confirm the identity of the individual.

“When you go to a polling station, the presiding officer will first ensure that the name you give… is on the Voters’ List. The presiding officer has in his/her possession at the polling station what is known as a “Black Book”. The Black Book contains a copy of your ID card and other information,” Mr. Brown informs.

“The presiding officer will use that to identify you and, in some instances, ask you questions, and so all the elector has to do is to respond to those questions. Having satisfied the presiding officer that you are the person that is registered on the Voters’ List, you would then be asked to take an oath. After that is completed, then you are given your instruction in terms of how to cast your ballot,” he further explains.

Voters should also find out exactly where they are to vote before Election Day, that is, the specific polling station.

They can do so by calling the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) toll-free helpline at 888-991-VOTE (8683).

Electors can also check by using the ‘Check My Status’ feature on the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) website at https://ecj.com.jm/.

Regarding the renewal of IDs, Mr. Brown says that the EOJ continues to renew voter ID; however, these might not be available for Election Day.

“You can, if you have not yet done so, seek to renew your ID card. A number of persons have sought to renew their ID card [and] have not yet picked up the new card and they are at the constituency offices. So, if you have not yet picked up your new ID, and you have sought to renew your ID, you can now visit your local constituency office and collect your new ID card,” he states.

Providing guidelines on what is allowed or not allowed on Election Day by the voter, Mr. Brown says persons are not allowed to use their cell phone inside the polling station and they are not supposed to be influencing or to be influenced by any other voter.

“You’re not allowed to show anybody your ballot paper and for whom you have voted, and also you won’t be allowed to return to the presiding officer an open ballot,” he informs.

According to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) website, once a person has been issued a ballot by the Presiding Officer, they are to go behind the voting booth and clearly mark an X for the candidate of choice in the space provided.

In addition, voters are to use the pencil provided in the voting booth. They are to fold their ballot twice, as instructed by the Presiding Officer, to protect the secrecy of the vote, leaving the flap out.

The individual should give the folded ballot to the Presiding Officer so that he or she can detach the flap.

The voter should dip their right index finger (pointer finger) in the integrity ink and watch while their unopened ballot is put in the ballot box.

Once they have witnessed their ballot being placed into the ballot box, their voting process is now complete, and they should leave the vicinity in a peaceful manner.

Meanwhile, Mr. Brown informs that the Electronic Voter Identification System will not be used during this local government elections.

“We have upgraded it, but we are at a stage where we need to test it before we actually implement it on an Election Day. So, for this election, we will be treating those seven constituencies as specialist; specialist in the sense that persons that will be working in those polling stations will be brought from outside the division,” he states.

“We will be putting in additional security in terms of the presence of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and members of the Jamaica Defence Force. So, we are beefing up security in those locations to prevent any intimidation and to prevent any impersonation,” Mr. Brown adds.

Employees who intend to vote in the upcoming Local Government Election are entitled to three hours’ time-off from work on Election Day, February 26. The three hours’ time-off to vote is in addition to the usual lunch hour.