FOR THE most part, voting went smoothly in polling stations across Jamaica with a steady flow of electors throughout the day.

As the counting of votes wound down last night, the PNP had secured the majority of rural seats, maintaining its domination but by a much reduced margin.

Central Clarendon emerged as a troublesome spot, with a report of fraudulent ballots being stuffed in boxes, but it did not deter voting.

Other reports emerged of inadequate security for ballots in some sections of Mandeville. But it was the usually quiet Rock Hall community in rural St. Andrew that shocked the country with reports of reprisal killings of a family caught in the middle of a feud.

In Linstead, St. Catherine one ballot box of votes cast Friday by the security forces and Election Day workers was found to be empty and was under investigation, while in Mandeville a box that had suspect ballots was later found to be a combination of yesterday's and Friday's ballots combined.

The rain emerged as a significant factor in the polls' performance, cutting into the high turnout of voters that were anticipated.

Sections of the island reported late arrival of electoral workers, some had insufficient equipment, resulting in a late start to polling in several areas, while a minimal number complained that they were not on the
election list despite being
enumerated.

Election officials explained that some electors had attempted to cast votes in polling stations in which they were not registered.

In sections of Mandeville and Clarendon, there was no electricity which hampered voting.