All systems go for Nomination Day

With both major political parties revving up their election campaign machineries to do battle in the November 28 Local Government Elections, the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) says its systems are ready to receive nominations of candidates today.

Nomination will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. at designated centres within the sixty-three constituencies.

At present, the People's National Party (PNP) controls all 13 Municipal Corporations, in addition to the Portmore Municipality.

Elections for the position of councillor to sit on the councils of the Municipal Corporations will be contested in 228 electoral divisions, as well as the Office of the Mayor of the Municipality of Portmore.

Both the PNP and the Jamaica Labour Party are expected to nominate a full slate of candidates across all the divisions.

Director of Elections Orrette Fisher says the EOJ is ready for nomination day, even as preparations for election day remain in high gear. He is expressing confidence that nomination day, as well as election day proceedings, will progress smoothly.

"With the preparations we have made, I anticipate a smooth nomination process on Friday. There are certain legal requirements that we must meet and a number of tasks to complete by nomination day. Our team has been working tirelessly to ensure that these are achieved. We anticipate that the proceedings on Friday will pave the way for a seamless process up to election day," he said.

Nomination Procedures

On nomination day, any person wishing to register as a candidate is required to:

n Fill out a nomination form, which has been signed by any six or more electors registered to vote in the electoral division

n Return the form to the Returning Officer between the hours of 10 a.m. and

2 p.m.

n Pay a nomination fee of J$3,000.