KINGSTON, Jamaica – Final counting for all constituencies across the island commenced earlier today, the Electoral Commission of Jamaica announced Friday.

Counting is taking place in the designated counting centres in each constituency, except for five – St Andrew Eastern, St Ann South Western, St Mary South Eastern, and St Catherine North Eastern which are being counted at the head office at Duke Street, Kingston; and St James Southern, which is being counted at the Regional Office in Montego Bay.

The director of elections, as allowed under the law, took the decision to provide closer monitoring for the final count in constituencies where the preliminary results were particularly close. Based on the preliminary count, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has won 33, and the People’s National Party 30 of the 63 seats available.

While the voter turnout was below 50 per cent, Director of Elections Orrette Fisher was pleased with the proceedings on election day.

“We worked with the security forces, political party representatives, observers and other stakeholders to address, in a swift manner, reports of incidents which arose. But in general we can say the proceedings went smoothly. As always, whenever we have an election, we must prepare for a 100 per cent turnout so it is unfortunate that only 48 per cent of the voting population turned out,” he said.

The final counting of ballots is expected to be completed by Monday, February 29.