ECJ seeks clarity on proposed Data Protection Act

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) says it has sought clarity on how the provisions of the proposed Data Protection Act will affect its management of the database containing almost two million registered voters.

In a release, the ECJ said it met with Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, Wahkeen Murray, on Wednesday to discuss the extent to which the proposed Act has implications for the management of data collected and maintained by the ECJ.

According to the ECJ, the Representation of the People Act (ROPA), the law which governs the electoral process, is very specific about how the information belonging to registered electors is collected, maintained and published.

As a result, the discussion between the ECJ and the Technology Ministry focused on the relationship between the two pieces of legislation and the legal framework within which the ECJ would operate upon the passage of the Data Protection Act.

And the ECJ said it would continue to examine the provisions of the Act as it relates to the electoral system and re-affirmed its commitment to be responsible in the collection of data and protecting the privacy of individuals in the electoral database.