Director of Elections Glasspole Brown says the secret ballot rule and connectivity challenges might be hurdles to Jamaica’s electoral process transitioning to electronic voting.
His intervention follows the recent North East St. Ann by election that has reignited conversations about voter apathy and making the voting process more convenient.
Over the past 20 years, voter turnout in Jamaica has steadily declined.
Historically, Jamaica had relatively high voter participation, with turnout rates exceeding 75 per cent in the 1970s. However, since the early 2000s, turnout has fallen significantly.
In the 2002 general election, voter turnout was 59 per cent, but by the 2020 general election, this figure had dropped to just 37 per cent of the population.
Several factors have contributed to this decline. Among them, widespread political disillusionment, particularly among younger voters, stemming from concerns about corruption and economic challenges.
Others have lamented the inadequate time granted to vote and the hassle of travelling to the constituency where they will cast their ballot.
The director of election says adjusting the rules to make voting more convenient in Jamaica would take significant legislative changes.
Meanwhile, Mr. Brown says setting up a location in each parish where persons registered to vote in another constituency could cast their ballot would be logistically challenging.
He was responding to the view that some employees find it difficult to return on election day to the constituency where they are registered to vote.
This, due to the limited time granted for employees to vote and the hassle of travelling.
Glasspole Brown, Director of Elections. He was speaking on Nationwide This Morning on Thursday.
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