Special Service Electors to Vote on February 22

Director of Elections, Glasspole Brown, has advised that special service electors will vote on February 22, ahead of the February 26 Local Government Elections.

This group comprises members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Defence Force and Election Day Workers.

Under the Representation of the People Act, provisions are made for these electors to vote three days before the rest of the population, to ensure that they are available for duty on Election Day.

Election Day Workers, military and police personnel who do not vote on February 22 will not be able to do so on February 26, as their names have been extracted from the Voters’ List to accommodate the February 22 voting and, therefore, will not be on the civilian list used on February 26.

More than 30,000 persons will be engaged as Election Day Workers, including presiding officers, poll clerks, supervisors, drivers, logistics coordinators and handymen.

“Where we are in terms of our preparation, we are comfortable and we anticipate that we will have a good election come February 26,” Mr. Brown told JIS News.

He advised that Jamaicans who do not hold a new Voter ID card will be allowed to cast their ballots on Election Day.

“If you have your new ID card, it will allow the process to go much faster. However, as long as you are on the Voters’ List, you will be allowed to vote,” Mr. Brown said.

He reminded Jamaicans that by law, every elector is allowed time off from work to vote.

“We are appealing to businessowners: we are appealing to various institutions to allow persons who are desirous of casting their ballots the time off to go and do so. They should be allowed three hours between the period of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.,” he said.