Jamaica Election Results Dec 2011

KINGSTON (Gleaner): In just under an hour the polls are scheduled to open in Jamaica’s 16th general election since the country obtained voting rights in 1944. The polls will open at 7 a.m. today and will close at 5 p.m. The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) says some 6,629 polling stations will be opened in the 63 constituencies across the island. The EOJ will be using the electronic voter identification and ballot issuing system in eight constituencies today. The EOJ’s public education officer, Christin Senior, says the electronic voter identification and ballot issuing system is being used in constituencies where there is a high risk of voter irregularities. The system will be fully rolled out in St. Catherine Eastern, St. Andrew West Central, St. Andrew South Eastern, Kingston Central, and St. Andrew Western. Senior says the system will be used only at some sections of St. Andrew North West and St. Andrew North Central. ust over 1.6 million electors are on the voters list and 150 candidates are contesting the election. The Jamaica Labour Party and the People’s National Party each nominated candidates in all 63 constituencies. The Marcus Garvey People’s Progressive Party has nominated 10 candidates, the National Democratic Movement, seven; while six Independent candidates have been nominated and one member of the Jamaica Alliance Movement.