Constituted Authority denies request to void election results in Holness' constituency

The Constituted Authority has refused an application by People's National Party candidate Paul Buchanan to void the September 3 poll results in the St Andrew West Central constituency.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader Dr Andrew Holness was declared the winner in the seat following the election.

Buchanan filed the application on September 16.

The Constituted Authority noted that he relied on the ground stipulated in section 37(e) of the Election Petition Act "that there is an upsurge in violence or any irregularity during election day in one or more polling stations or polling divisions or in any electoral division or constituency which would lead to a substantial distortion or subversion of the process of free and fair election.”

Buchanan submitted several affidavits in support of his request, but the Constituted Authority said after careful consideration of the affidavits and relevant case law, it found that the evidence presented did not satisfy the standard contemplated by the wording of section 37(e).

Buchanan was reportedly informed of the Constituted Authority's decision on Tuesday.

Holness tallied 7,054 votes to Buchanan's 4,953.

The margin of victory stirred wide public discussion because the JLP leader was trailing Buchanan by close to 100 votes after 87 of the 105 ballot boxes had been counted.

The 18 outstanding ballot boxes were from polling stations located at Seaward Gardens Primary and Infant School, the director of election confirmed.

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