KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has said it is fully prepared to receive nominations of candidates for the September 3 General Parliamentary Elections.

Nomination of candidates to contest the elections is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, August 18 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at designated centres across the 63 constituencies.

Director of Elections, Glasspole Brown, is expecting the day’s activities to flow smoothly. “The necessary arrangements for Nomination Day have been completed. All nomination documents and supplies have been delivered to the constituencies and Returning Officers are ready to accept nominations on Tuesday,” he said.

EOJ said that due to the COVID-19 safety measures, only a limited number of people will be allowed inside nomination centres, in keeping with physical distancing protocol, and everyone – including prospective candidates, their supporters, EOJ officials and the media –  will be required to wear a mask. 

Said Brown: “I urge all persons involved in the nomination process to remember to wear a mask to the nomination location. The temperatures of all persons entering the location will be checked and their hands will be sanitised. The security forces will be assisting us with managing the number of persons entering the compound as we seek to adhere to the COVID-19 health and safety protocols.”

On nomination day, any person wishing to register as a candidate is required to:

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[naviga:li]Fill out a nomination form signed by any 10 or more electors registered to vote in the constituency;[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Return the form to the Returning Officer between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm; and[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Pay the nomination fee of $15,000.[/naviga:li]

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Candidates who receive 12.5 per cent or one-eighth of the total votes in the constituency which he/she contested may be reimbursed his/her nomination fee.

Subject to the provisions of the Constitution of Jamaica (Sections 39 and 40), any person seeking to enter as a candidate to sit in the House of Representative, ie to be nominated, should:

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[naviga:li]Be a citizen of Jamaica, resident in Jamaica for at least 12 months prior to the date of nomination, or a Commonwealth citizen who has resided in Jamaica for at least 12 months prior to the nomination date;[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Be at least 21 years of age.[/naviga:li]

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