MANDEVILLE, Manchester- Up to midday the atmosphere on the streets of Mandeville was that of a regular business day.

Party colours were few and far between and none of the fanfare that was seen in the December 29 General Election.

A representative from the Electoral Office in Manchester said that voter turnout has been “extremely slow” for the Local Government Election.

Save for concerns that voters that turned out early to vote at polling station #31 at Grove Road in Mandeville had to cast their ballot in darkness, there were no reports of any challenges from Election Day workers.

The Presiding Officer at the polling station told the Observer that was not the case.

She said whereas in the last General Election a battery lamp was necessary for the voters to cast their ballots there was no need for it this time around. She said that due to the time of year the sun was up early and they had the benefit of sunlight.

“We have electricity to count the ballots after five” she said, looking in the direction of the extension cord stretching from the HEART/Trust facility on the compound into the previous Jamal Centre which served as the polling station.

Assistant Police Commissioner (ACP) Derrick Cochrane for the Area Three Police Division, which consists of the parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth said that the police and the army are on alert.

“Voting has been going steadily through the Electoral Divisions. The police is out there and the army. We all are creating that enabling environment for the people to express their democratic will” said ACP Cochrane.