Security forces, election workers vote today

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Tuesday | August 28, 2007

Members of the security forces and election day workers go to the polls today to cast their ballots in the country's 15th general election since Adult Suffrage in 1944.

The 32,000 persons scheduled to vote today will exercise their franchise, one week ahead of the rest of the country, in an election that many analysts forecast could be very close.

Director of Elections Danville Walker says he is expecting voting to proceed smoothly, adding that his only concern was that the police vote at their designated polling stations.

Giving a breakdown of the category of persons voting today, Mr. Walker said that about 6,000 police were expected to cast their ballot, 1,800 members of the military and another 24,200 election day workers and polling station security assistants.

Eligible electors of the Jamaica Constabulary Force were mailed information identifying the polling stations where they should vote, while election day personnel received text messages.

The EOJ says voting will take place at 240 polling stations across the country.

The rest of the country will vote next Monday, September 3.