All systems go for Nomination Day

By: Admin

Image caption: The sign outside the nomination centre ahead of a previous election for the constituency of St Andrew North Western.

The machinery of the two major political parties will be at full throttle today as the prospective candidates and their supporters are expected to whip up frenzied carnival-type celebrations that accompany Nomination Day exercises across Jamaica’s 63 constituencies.

Independent candidates and representatives of minor political parties are also expected to participate in the nomination exercise to run in the September 3 general election.

The buzz of activities will reach a crescendo between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the nomination of candidates will be conducted by officials from the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ). Nominations of candidates for local government by-elections will be accepted between noon and 2 p.m. 

Campaigning intensified

Director of Elections Glasspole Brown told The Gleaner last week that all the nomination centres would be opened on time and support staff would be in place to carry out the exercise.

Campaigning for the upcoming elections has intensified since Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness announced the date of the polls last week at a mass rally in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew.

The People’s National Party (PNP) held its Kingston and St Andrew meeting Saturday night and has announced plans for a mass rally in Mandeville later this month.

The EOJ has informed that any person wishing to register as a candidate for the parliamentary election is required to complete the nomination form signed by any 10 or more electors registered to vote in the constituency. The form should be returned to the returning officer between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the place specified in the election notice as the designated venue on the day appointed as nomination day. The person being nominated is also required to pay a fee of $15,000 to the returning officer. 

At the same time, persons wishing to register as candidates for the local government by-elections are required to complete the nomination form signed by any six or more electors qualified to vote in the electoral division for which the election is to be held.

The form should be returned to the returning officer between noon and 2 p.m. and a fee of $3,000 paid.

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