Slow pace at polling stations for essential services voters

Polling stations across the Corporate Area where members of the essential services cast ballots for the local government elections today reported a smooth, but slow process. 

Only a handful of voters were observed at several polling stations visited by The Gleaner in the early afternoon. 

“We don't have more than two people in the line at any time,” a returning officer at the Electoral Commission office in Rockfort, East Kingston told The Gleaner. 

A returning officer at the Rockfort Police Station expressed concern at how slow the votes were coming in. 

“It's much slower this time around. Normally the first three or so hours, we get an influx, but it was very slow today,” he said. 

However, he was optimistic that it would pick up later in the afternoon. 

Another returning officer at the Elletson Road Police Station said low voter turnout is often the case for local government elections. 

“It's a very slow process; it will pick up eventually. Sometime people don't really pay much attention to local government,” he said. 

A similar sentiment was shared by an official when The Gleaner visited the Harman Barracks training wing of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Declaring that he has voted in the last three elections, a police officer in line to vote at the Rockfort Police Station encouraged his colleagues to come out and vote, who he noted had become apathetic towards the election process.

“Police officers have lost confidence in the whole electorate system so maybe that's the reason,” he said. “But this is a way to express your preference, as it relates to the political parties that are here in Jamaica.”

Meanwhile, another police officer who had already cast his ballot stated that he felt obligated to vote. 

“I am 52 years old, and I have been voting since I was 18 years old. It's the one right you get in your country, and I just believe I must determine who runs my country,” he said. 

More than 40,000 special services electors are eligible to vote today ahead of the February 26 local government elections. This group comprises 10,544 police officers, 4,882 soldiers; and 25,088 election day workers.

Under the Representation of the People Act, provisions are made for military and police personnel, as well as election day workers, to vote ahead of the rest of the population, to ensure that they are available for duty on election day. 

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