Chief Justice Bryan Sykes has challenged the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) to move beyond simply maintaining the fairness of the democratic process and also tackle the island’s growing voter apathy, arguing that disengagement also threatens the vitality of democracy.

“I place this challenge before the electoral commission. Do not be satisfied with preservation. Commit to evolution, because democracy is not static. It is a living system; and like all living systems, it must grow, or it will decline,” said Sykes.

He was speaking during the ECJ’s Long Service Awards Ceremony honouring members of staff who have dedicated years to preserving the voter process. It was hosted at the Terra Nova Hotel in St Andrew on Wednesday.

Delivering the keynote address the chief justice extended congratulations to the awardees and the ECJ for maintaining the integrity of the democratic process. Sykes highlighted that over the years, the commission has consistently ensured that voting was conducted in a fair and unbiased manner with few inaccuracies.

“In many parts of the world, elections take days, sometimes longer, to produce definitive results. Uncertainty lingers. Speculation grows. Tensions rise. But in Jamaica, we have consistently demonstrated the capacity to produce clear and credible outcomes on election day.

“It is not a technical achievement, but it is a constitutional strength, reinforcing public confidence, supporting stability. It affirms the rule of law and reassures citizens that the system works, and it reminds us that excellence is not the exclusive result of larger or wealthier nations. It is the product of commitment, and you have shown that commitment. But, and this is the critical point, success, if not carefully understood, can become its own risk,” warned Sykes.

Continuing his point, the chief justice argued that current times call for evolution, and that the ECJ should now operate under a mandate that prioritises not only the fairness of democracy, but also find new ways to engage disillusioned citizens.

“The success of the electoral commission has earned something invaluable: trust. But trust is not permanent. It does not endure on reputation alone. It must be maintained, renewed, strengthened, protected. And this is where the idea of a growth mindset from Professor [Carol] Dweck’s book Mindset becomes relevant,” said Sykes.

“A fixed mindset says we have succeeded, therefore we are secure. A growth mindset says because we have succeeded, we must now evolve and continue to evolve. And the electoral commission stands at precisely that moment,” he added.

Sykes noted that as the country becomes more digitised, with less tolerance for tedious bureaucratic processes, the ECJ must also transform by leveraging the efficiency of technology to attract those frustrated by the current voting system.

His concerns come as voter apathy continues to be a prominent topic among political observers, as polls consistently record low voter turnout each election cycle. According to the ECJ, of the 2,077,799 registered voters, only 39.5 per cent cast their ballots in 2025, with just 819,749 people going to the polls. This represented a slight increase over the 38 per cent turnout for the 2020 General Election.

Additionally, only 21 per cent of voters under 30 years old exercised their franchise in the 2025 General Election.

“And so the question before the commission is no longer simply, ‘Does the system work?’ The question is: ‘Is the system prepared for what comes next?’ The response must be deliberate, it must be thoughtful, and it must be forward-looking. The electoral process must continue to evolve; not simply to keep pace but to lead. It must explore how technology can expand access, carefully, responsibly, and securely,” he said.

Sykes also mentioned a meeting he had in Mexico, where he and other officials deliberated ways to boost participation from the electorate. He noted that questions surrounding becoming more mobile, by taking voting into nursing homes, hospitals, and prisons, were vital options to consider.

He reiterated that while the ECJ has built Jamaica’s democracy on strong principles that have safeguarded it well, the nation’s future now depends on decisive action that re-engages the disinterested.

“We have all contributed to a system that ensures that when a Jamaican casts a vote, the vote is protected, it is respected, it is meaningful, it is counted. And that is no small achievement. That is the quiet architecture of democracy. And the greatest tribute we can pay to that service is not simply to celebrate it, but to build upon it,” said Sykes.

“If the past was about securing the vote, the future must be about strengthening participation. If the past was about independence, the future must be about deepening engagement. If the past was about overcoming challenges, the future must be about anticipating them, and that is the work of a growth mindset,” he added.