Ballots rule over bullets

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Monday | September 3, 2007

Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Prof. Errol Miller, yesterday signalled a warning to candidates and electors that fraud or intimidation would not be tolerated in today's general election.

"To the misguided few who may be tempted to return to illegal or corrupt practices of the past, let there be no doubt whatsoever. The laws are clear. Elections must not take place in circumstances of riot, civil disturbance and open violence," Professor Miller said in a national broadcast to the nation.

He continued: "Candidates must not win elections by fraud, violence or intimidation. Energies and efforts devoted to corrupt and illegal activities will be futile and bring nothing but grief to those involved. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear."

YOUR VOTE IS SECRET

You will vote behind booths that will not allow others to see how you vote.

Fold your ballot properly before handing it to the presiding officer. Once the counterfoil is removed from the ballot, it cannot be traced back to you.

Do not show the persons in the polling station how you have voted. If you do so, your ballot will be spoiled by the presiding officer; if you do it a second time, the ballot will be spoiled and you will be guilty of a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment.

HOW DOES A DISABLED PERSON VOTE?

Disabled electors will now vote like blind electors. You can take a friend to vote for you.

Once the friend has assisted you, that friend cannot assist another disabled or blind voter.

Make sure beforehand that your friend is not also somebody else's friend.

VOTING WITHOUT AN ID CARD

All voters should remember to take their voter identification cards to the polling stations. This will allow them to vote quickly.

The Representation of the People Act allows electors to vote without their ID cards.

Electors without ID cards have to swear to their identity and be fingerprinted. This takes much more time.

NO CELLPHONE USE IN POLLING STATIONS

The use of cellular phones and digital cameras is strictly prohibited in polling stations.

ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION

For the first time, the electronic identification of the voter and ballot-issuing system is being used in a general election.

This system identifies the elector electronically and issues the ballot to the elector.

The system is being used in 13 urban constituencies in the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. James.