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October 28, 2011
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Star Features |
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The election voters' list |
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Many Jamaicans are happy with the recent swearing in and appointment of Jamaica's new prime minister, and some are eagerly awaiting the date for the general election. However, a man who has not voted for the last 10 years is hoping he will be able to vote in the next election. "I have not been enumerated. Next week I will be going to the electoral office in my area so I can be on the voters list to be able to vote in the next election, " he said. "To tell the truth, I lost interest in voting and, as a result, I did not get enumerated. With the recent developments, I just want to vote," he explained. "I don't really have a special love for either the People's National Party or the Jamaica Labour Party but I know I have to vote for one of them. When the time comes, I will make my decision," he said. "My wife, who is a regular voter, has been encouraging me recently to vote. She said it is important for people to exercise their right to vote.
"My greatest regret is that the election is not like that which takes place in the United States of America. I am hoping some day our election laws will change so we can all vote for a president or a prime minister who will, on winning, choose persons from any party to serve the country. I think such a change will help to reduce the violence which takes place, especially at election time," he added.
The fact that you have not been enumerated means your name will not be on the new voters' list to be published on November 30. If you are enumerated next week, it means your name will appear on the voters' list for May 31 next year.
The law requires that Nomination Day must be announced at least five days after the new list. If Nomination Day for the next election is announced at least five days after the May 31 voters' list, you will be able to vote in that election. If Nomination Day is announced before, only persons whose names are on the November 30 voters' list will be able to vote.
A new voters' list is published every six months.
Section 7 of the Representation of the People Act states that the chief electoral officer shall, every six months, or at such other intervals as the minister may, on the advice of the electoral advisory committee, from time to time, prescribe, and in, accordance with the rules, prepare an official list of electors in respect of every polling division and forthwith publish such list in the prescribed manner. |
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