Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) reports 72 per cent turnout on Tuesday

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Thursday | August 30, 2007

Of the 33,288 persons enumerated to vote on Tuesday when membersof the security forces and election day workers cast their ballots, 24,030 exercised their franchise. Professor Errol Miller, chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), noted that this represented a 72 per cent voter turnout. A few glitches on election day prevented some persons from casting their ballots.Meanwhile, despite damage to 246 polling stations by Hurricane Dean, officials at the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) and the ECJ said yesterday that voting in next Monday's general election will not be affected.

Director of Elections Danville Walker said stations in South Manchester, St. Elizabeth, St. Thomas and Portland were hardest hit by the Category Four hurricane which passed over Jamaica on August 19.

"We have been moving very quickly to make sure we are able to hold elections easily in those locations, and I'm confident we'll be able to do so," Mr. Walker said during a joint EOJ/ECJ press conference in New Kingston.

Professor Errol Miller, chairman of the ECJ, said 154 of the stations sustained severe damage, while 92 picked up minor damage.

Eight of the polling areas that were badly affected, he disclosed, have been relocated to nearby premises. Forty-four of them have been enhanced by wooden structures, while 'other arrangements' are being made for the other 102 that felt the brunt of 'Dean'.

Approximately 6,232 polling stations will be in operation on election day, Professor Miller said.

Professor Miller said under Jamaican law, none of the political parties will be allowed to stage public campaigning as of midnight Saturday. There will be no political advertisements 24 hours before the elections.

"In terms of meetings, marches, motorcades and rallies and so on, (these) must end on Saturday; it cannot go beyond midnight," he said.