KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) has informed that the final count for the October 30 by-elections in the constituencies of St Andrew Southern, St Andrew South Western and St Mary South Eastern, began yesterday.

The ECJ said of the three constituencies, St Andrew South Western has completed the final counting of votes.

The counting for the remaining constituencies continues today and at the start of the day, St Mary South Eastern had 54 boxes uncounted while St Andrew Southern had 58 remaining.

Preliminary ballots counted showed that Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for the constituency of St Mary South Eastern, Dr Norman Dunn won the seat over the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate Dr Shane Alexis by over 900 votes.

Meanwhile in St Andrew South Western, PNP’s Angela Brown Burke got 6,325 votes to JLP’s three-time candidate Victor Hyde’s 223 votes.

PNP was also the victor in St Andrew Southern where Mark Golding won with 6095 votes to JLP’s Dane Dennis’ 894 votes.

The ECJ stated that, “the returning officer for each constituency must submit the results to the Director of Elections within seven days after completing the final count. After receiving the results, the Director of Elections will then advise the Governor-General and the Clerk to the Houses of Parliament as to the winning candidates”.