Polls open in Jamaica for Local Government Election

By: Admin

Image caption: Director of Elections, Orette Fisher

Polling stations in Jamaica have now been opened for the 14th Local Government Elections since 1947.

The polls will close at 5 p.m and the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) is projecting that the preliminary results should be ready by 9 o’clock this evening.

Some 478 candidates have been nominated to contest the 228 parish council divisions.

Earlier, the Electoral Office of Jamaica had expressed concern about the level of interest of prospective Election Day workers for today’s poll.

But last night, the Director of Elections, Orette Fisher said he was satisfied that there were sufficient workers to ensure a smooth operation today.

Mr Fisher also says systems have been put in place to quell concerns about a likely repeat of alleged ballot tampering as happened in East Central St James in the December elections.

Meanwhile, Mr Fisher says the EOJ will be fully using the Electronic Voter Identification and Ballot Issuing system in six constituencies and partly in two.

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