Some Portmore residents could once again miss out on electing their next mayor as the Government continues to delay in providing the funds to legitimise the Portmore Municipal Council's newest constituencies.

The attorney general has indicated to the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) that it needs to collect the signatures of seven per cent of the registered electors in the Portmore municipality.

This is to ensure that residents who were left out, based on the 2010 boundary changes, are included in the election of the mayor next time around. Last week, director of elections, Orette Fisher, said consultation with the residents and securing the signatures of seven per cent of them is a legal requirement.

However, the EOJ has been waiting for more than a year for the State to provide the $1 million, which it will needs to collect the signatures.

Minister with responsibility for electoral matters, Phillip Paulwell, has vowed the money will be provided this month. He says approval has been granted by the Ministry of Finance for the funding to be released to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica for the exercise to be done.

Residents of the two divisions which were created following the constituency boundary changes were unable to vote for their mayor in the 2010 local government elections because of the legal barrier.