KINGSTON, Jamaica – Voters are waiting patiently to cast their ballots at the three polling stations at the First Missionary Church on East Street in the Rae Town Division in Kingston Central.

People waiting in line on the compound told Observer Online that they had been waiting in line for more than 30 minutes to cast their votes.

“This a tek too long now,” said one man who claimed he had been waiting for more than one hour.

“Mi have somewhere to go but mi have to wait to vote for Ribba,” added the man who refused to give his name.

The scene outside the First Missionary Church in the Rae Town Division during voting on Monday.

The “Ribba” he referenced is the People’s National Party’s Shawn McGregor who is in a battle with the Jamaica Labour Party’s Rosealie Hamilton for control of the division.

Hamilton won by just one vote in the last local government election in 2016.

Electoral Office of Jamaica officials on the scene refused to comment on the slow voting but some residents told the Observer that the process is at a snail’s pace because many people have turned up to vote without IDs and have to swear before they can vote.

And while people waiting inside the polling station were able to enjoy some shade, it was no such luck for those in line outside as they endured the full force of the morning sun.

“Them fi mek the people who no have no ID stay a back,” said one woman waiting outside the polling station.

“The sun wicked bad and the one dem who a swear a make this tek too long,” added the woman.