#JaVotes2025 | First-time young voter in St James Southern encourages others to cast their ballots
Published:Wednesday | September 3, 2025 | 4:56 PM
Twenty-four-year-old Truston Grizzle, of Maldon, St James, proudly cast his vote for the very first time in Wednesday’s election day activity in the St James Southern constituency, an act he hopes others will emulate in future elections.
“This is actually my very first election, and I am very excited but nervous at the same time, because I want the candidate of my choice to win,” Grizzle told The Gleaner moments after voting at the Maldon High School’s voting centre.
“I am sure that everybody has a particular vision for the country as a whole, but for the country to go in that particular direction, we need to have it at the community level first. That means every single constituent should exercise their franchise in ensuring that they come out and vote,” Grizzle added.
The first-time voter, who did not participate in the previous election process in 2020 as he was a student at the time, noted that there were not many other young voters at the time he came to cast his ballot.
“I have seen a few young people working as agents, whether indoor or outdoor agents, but as it relates to voting, I have not seen a lot of young people doing that. It may be a case where they voted already and have gone back home,” said Grizzle.
The St James Southern constituency is being contested by Homer Davis of the Jamaica Labour Party, Nekeisha Burchell of the People’s National Party, and Leon Cunningham of the Jamaica Progressive Party.
Grizzle pointed to youth engagement, road rehabilitation, and water as the major issues faced by the constituency, though he admitted that some work has been happening to address some of the concerns in his area.
-Christopher Thomas Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.