Jamaicans are showing early signs of lower participation in Wednesday’s General Election, with 14.8 per cent of voters casting ballots by 11:00 am, according to the the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ).

The rate is below the pace of the 2020 polls during the COVID-19 pandemic, when participation ultimately slumped to a historical low 37.9 per cent.

By comparison, it is also lower than the rate seen in the 2016 election which closed with turnout at 48.4 per cent.

For the Local Government by-election, which is being held simultaneously, the EOJ reported turnout of 12.17 per cent at the same point in the day.

The EOJ noted that reports of long lines at some polling stations were linked mainly to electors arriving without their voter identification cards. These voters must go through an alternative verification process, which slows down the flow inside polling stations.

Despite the delays, the EOJ assured that everyone in line by 5:00 pm will be allowed to cast their ballot, emphasising that no eligible voter will be turned away once the polls officially close.

Turnout figures are being watched closely after the steep drop in 2020, when fewer than four in ten registered voters participated.

– Karena Bennett