CLOSE TO three out of every four persons registered to vote say they intend to cast their ballots on Election Day, a Gleaner-commissioned poll has found.

According to the poll, conducted by Don Anderson and his team from Market Research Services Ltd., 73.9 per cent of those enumerated say they have made up their minds to go to the polls on October 16.

The poll was conducted over the period September 23 and 27 and involved interviews with 2,232 persons islandwide. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.9 per cent.

At the same time, 12 per cent of those interviewed say they have no intention of voting while the figure for those who make up the ranks of the uncommitted stands at 14.1 per cent.

"The question of the uncommitted has always been of great significance, but it's felt to be more so now especially against the background of the return of Bruce Golding to the Jamaica Labour Party. The view is held in some quarters that Mr. Golding's return could act as a catalyst for these persons to shift from sitting on the fence," Mr. Anderson said in his analysis.

Last week, Mr. Golding went back to the JLP, seven years after he left the party to form the National Democratic Movement (NDM).

The poll revealed that the most important factor that is likely to influence uncommitted voters to cast their ballots, is the performance of the respective party leaders.

Some 34.8 per cent said they could be persuaded to go out and vote based on how the leaders conducted themselves in the period leading up to the election.

Another 24.4 per cent say they could be convinced by more effective discussion of issues; 19.2 per cent pointed to more direct contact with the candidates as the factor that could push them to go out and vote; while nine per cent said they could be motivated by the advertisements of the respective parties.