What you should know before you vote

The time has come once again for Jamaicans to take to the polls and vote for the party that they would like to see form the next government. However, there are a few things that the electorate should know before taking to the polls; here are some of them.

Who can vote

Every person whose name appears on the official list of electors shall be permitted to vote at the polling station established, at which such list of electors will be used. Section 4 of The Fundamental Rights (Additional Provisions) (Interim) Act speaks to the fact that "Every person shall have the right to vote and to participate in free and fair elections but only if that person is qualified to be registered as an elector and is so registered" and, two, "that the person is not, by the provision of any law in force for the time being, disqualified from being eligible to be registered as an elector".

A person who shall be qualified to be registered as an elector is any person who is a citizen of Jamaica; resident in Jamaica at the date of registration; or any person who is a Commonwealth citizen (other than a citizen of Jamaica) who is resident in Jamaica at the date of registration and who has been so resident for at least 12 months immediately preceding that date. In all circumstances, the person must have attained the age of 18 years.

The law permits a single registration for each elector in one polling division only. So, an applicant with multiple residences can be registered in one polling division only. Voting is permitted subject to certain conditions - that is, the elector's name should appear on an official list for particular polling division and the presiding officers must be satisfied as to the identity of the elector.

Polling hours

Polling stations should be opened from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, if at the hour of closing of the poll there are any electors inside the polling station or within the immediate precincts who are qualified to vote and have not been able to do so since their arrival at the polling station, the poll shall be kept open at sufficient time to enable them to vote, but no one not actually present within the polling station or actually identified by the presiding officer as being within the immediate precincts at the hour of closing shall be allowed to vote.

Procedure for voters

The procedure for voting is prescribed by law, which cannot be detailed in its entirety here. A key thing to note, however, is that if the elector refuses to immerse his finger in the electoral ink, the presiding officer has the right to destroy his ballot and in the remarks column of the poll book, opposite the name of the elector write the words, 'Refuse to dip'.

Provisions are also made for the voter who has a problem with his name on the list due to incorrect spelling or other variances; the voter who has no identification card; the blind voter; and a voter who is incapacitated other than by blindness.

No cellular phones, cameras or other video-recording or electronic devices are allowed to be used inside the polling station. Any elector who shows his ballot or takes a picture or records his ballot in any way shall have his ballot taken away and be issued a new ballot. However, if the action is repeated, the elector will not be issued any further ballots. Section 35 (10) of the Representation of the People Act makes the foregoing act an offence, which attracts a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment.

So on February 25, 2016, when you take to the polls to exercise your franchise, go out early and bring all the necessary identification so that the process may be as smooth as possible. After placing your vote, get on with your day's activities and wait to see who will emerge the victor. Have a free, fair and safe election!