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Reasons for Uncertainty and Likely Voting Direction
Respondents who expressed uncertainty about voting in the 2016 General Election provided a number
of reasons for their state of indecision. Chart 7 summarized the responses into 9 categories. The biggest
problem for respondents was that they had become tired of the ruling party (PNP) – but did not see the
JLP as a viable option. This group made up almost a third of the undecided. Remember that this was the
second most popular reason presented by declared ‘none‐voters’ above (demanding a third party). Note
that a significant proportion of JLP supporters/sympathizers again expressed that “My party (JLP) cannot
win.” This time it amounted to 9% of the group. Additionally, 6% of respondents either like the Leader of
the JLP but not the Party, or the Party but not the Leader – which suggests that the 2 are seen by some
Jamaicans as separated. This problem is much less among PNPs, who seem much closer knitted
throughout the study. Note that only 2 percent of the group have this problem with the PNP and its
Leader. A significant number (17%) of persons expressed uncertainty about voting because they felt
neglected by successive governments, especially those from St. Thomas. This parish was also among
those with persons who complained that they needed better candidates. Just over a quarter of the
respondents in this group had no complaints – they simply had not yet made up their minds.
30%
27%
17%
9%
6%
5%
2% 2% 2%
Chart 7: Reasons for Uncertainty about Voting in the 2016 Election
Need a change but JLP not a viable
option (94)
Mind not made up yet (82)
Both neglect, me, my community,
parish or poor people (51)
My party (JLP) cannot win (28)
Like Leader but not JLP/Like JLP
but not the Leader (20)
Poor candidate (15)
Like Leader but not PNP/Like PNP
but not the Leader (7)
Do not like any of the 2 Leaders (6)
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