JUST over 40,500 police, soldiers, and election day workers are slated to cast their ballots today for the February 26 Local Government Elections.

Director of Elections Glasspole Brown has noted that under the Representation of the People Act, provisions are made for these electors to vote three days before the rest of the population, to ensure that they are available for duty on election day.

Election day workers, military and police personnel who do not vote today will not be able to do so on February 26 as their names have been extracted from the voters’ list to accommodate today’s casting of their ballots and, therefore, will not be on the civilian list used on Monday.

According to Brown, polling stations and staff are equipped and ready to go for members of the police and military forces, as well as election day workers, to cast their votes. Polling hours are from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

“Preparations have been made to accommodate voting for the 40,514 special services electors to go to the polls ahead of the February 26 Local Government Elections. This group comprises: 10,544 members of the police force; 4,882 soldiers; and 25,088 election day workers,” said Brown

Police personnel will vote at the divisional headquarters where they are now assigned, while soldiers will vote at the main Jamaica Defence Force bases. Election day workers will vote at designated polling stations in each constituency.

Brown said 10 polling locations with 38 polling stations have been allocated for military voting; while 21 polling locations with 78 polling stations have been allocated for the police. In addition, 239 polling locations with 249 polling stations have been assigned for election day workers.

According to Brown, more than 25,000 people who will be engaged as election day workers — including presiding officers, poll clerks, supervisors, drivers, logistics coordinators, and handymen.

“We are appealing to employers to give election day workers the necessary time off on election day to carry out their civic duty. We are also expressing appreciation to those employers who have readily committed to allowing their employees to work on election day,” said Brown.

He added that election day workers who have not been notified of their voting day and voting location by phone call or text message are advised to contact Electoral Office of Jamaica.

Brown added: “Where we are in terms of our preparation, we are comfortable and we anticipate that we will have a good election come February 26.”

He noted that people who do not hold a new voter identification card will be allowed to cast their ballots on election day.

“If you have your new ID card it will allow the process to go much faster, however as long as you are on the voters’ list you will be allowed to vote,” said Brown as he underscored that, by law, every elector is allowed time off from work to vote.

“We are appealing to business owners, we are appealing to various institutions to allow persons who are desirous of casting their ballots the time off to go and do so. They should be allowed three hours between the period of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm,” added Brown.