Polling activities in western Jamaica proceeded smoothly throughout Monday for the roughly 800 military personnel who were down to vote. A few minor glitches were reported however in St. Elizabeth, St. James, Trelawny and Westmoreland.

In Trelawny, 49 persons of about 75 on the list cast their votes, while approximately four persons were left off the list.

In St. James, polling started late, at 9:55 a.m., due to the late arrival of ballots. There was a reported 90 per cent turnout of the 366 military personnel listed.

In Hanover, there was smooth sailing for the 104 eligible voters, with no problems reported.

In Westmoreland, some 15 persons were left off the list, but otherwise there was no hitch to the polling there.

In St. Elizabeth, there were complaints of missing names, but otherwise voting for the about 150 electors also went smoothly.

Close to 50 per cent of the officers from both the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) were not able to cast their ballots in Manchester and Clarendon, Monday, The Gleaner learned.

According to a polling clerk at the JDF barracks in Mandeville, out of 59 names which came on the list up to late evening before that centre closed, only an approximate 30 persons had voted.

The clerk said that approximately 10 per cent of the number of soldiers who were eligible to vote did not get to exercise their constitutional rights as their names did not appear on the list.

Returning Officer of Manchester Central, Caswell Burton, told The Gleaner when checks were made at the centre at the Mandeville Courthouse, that since 8 a.m. when the polling station opened, things went quite smoothly.

Slow going

When the polls closed for the voting of policemen in St. Thomas, less than 50 per cent had voted. It was slow going for electoral personnel at the two polling stations in the parish, as at midday only 17 officers had cast their votes. At the end of the day, 48 officers had voted, against a total of 113 names on the voters list. Two officers could not find their names on the voters list, however, electoral personnel said their names could be on the civilian list.

The polls opened early and according to Returning Officer Evelyn Ferguson, everything was in place.

Policemen attached to the Area 3 Division of the JCF cast their ballots at the Mandeville Court House.

The process however was not without its hitches, as a significant number of officers were unable to vote because their names were not on the available voters list. These officers were however told by electoral officers that although their names did not appear on the voters list at the Court House, they will be able to vote tomorrow as their names should appear on the general list which will be used on election day.

Some officers, however, greeted this advice angrily, saying it will almost be impossible for them to vote as they will most likely be deployed to areas where it will be inconvenient for them to vote. One high ranking officer whose name did not appear on the list told The Gleaner he was enumerated in St. Mary so there was no way he would be able to exercise his vote while on duty in Manchester on the day of the elections.

Heavy rains fell as police from both the east and west Portland constituencies attended the polling station at the Port Antonio courthouse.

The polls opened at 10 a.m. as scheduled, but the process did not go smoothly. By noon, at least six persons had been turned away because their names did not appear on the voters list.

According to presiding officer, Ms. Sonia Scott, names appeared on the police list but not on the general list submitted by the Director of Elections to the Portland electoral centre. Returning officer Mr. Silbert Davis said the matter has been reported to the Director of Elections.

People's National Party candidate for East Portland, Senator Dr. Donald Rhodd, visited the ballot centre to issue complaints on behalf of disenfranchised voters. Of the 139 voters who appear on the list, 51 had voted by noon Monday. At the end of the day only 91 out of the 139 registered electors had polled their votes.

Members of the Police Force stationed in Clarendon all had to poll their votes at the May Pen Police Station but all was not smooth sailing.

The official voters list with one hundred and seventy one names did not include a number of police personnel enumerated in the parish and still based there.

Disappointment was expressed by those officers whose names did not appear on the list and, as a result, could not vote. They say they are hoping the names will appear on the civilian list and that they will be able to exercise their franchise tomorrow.

Low polling was a feature of the day as up to the close of poll at 4 p.m. less than 50 per cent of the eligible voters took the opportunity to vote.

According to the election officers, voting was slow throughout the day, except for the period between 8 and 9 a.m. when twenty persons cast their ballots.