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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : New Voters ' List release , called off by the EOJ ( RJR )...</span>
The announcement of a by-election in the constituency of North East St. Ann has resulted in the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EoJ) calling off plans to release the new Voters' List on Tuesday. The List, which contains the names of persons eligible to vote in national elections, is published annually on May 31 and November 30.The EoJ, says due to last Friday's announcement that the people of North East St. Ann will be going to the polls come December 20 the List will not be made public as scheduled.Director of Elections, Orrette Fisher, explained that under the country's electoral laws the EoJ is prevented from publishing the new List at this time.It dictates that the Voters' List which is to be used in an election must be at least five days old on Nomination Day."No the list will not be published as long as the election is on because the law does not allow me to publish a list less than five days before Nomination Day if an election is to be held," Mr. Fisher said.The Director of Elections explained that new electors in North East St. Ann will therefore not be able to cast ballots in next month's by-election as the May 31 Voters' List will be used.It is not yet known how many persons will be affected."This simply means that persons who were registered since the publication of the May 31st Voters' List will not be able to vote in the upcoming by-election," Mr. Fisher said.It will be known later Tuesday whether the Court of Appeal will impose an order, blocking the holding of the by-election in North East St. Ann.On Friday, attorneys for former People's National Party Member of Parliament, Manley Bowen, applied for the order hours after Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced the by-election.Mr. Bowen and his attorneys are insisting the election cannot be held until his appeal is heard in March next year. The attorneys have cited section 22 of the Election Petitions Act, which bars the holding of the by-election until the entire matter surrounding the seat is settled in court.
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : New Voters ' List release , called off by the EOJ ( RJR )...</span>
The announcement of a by-election in the constituency of North East St. Ann has resulted in the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EoJ) calling off plans to release the new Voters' List on Tuesday. The List, which contains the names of persons eligible to vote in national elections, is published annually on May 31 and November 30.The EoJ, says due to last Friday's announcement that the people of North East St. Ann will be going to the polls come December 20 the List will not be made public as scheduled.Director of Elections, Orrette Fisher, explained that under the country's electoral laws the EoJ is prevented from publishing the new List at this time.It dictates that the Voters' List which is to be used in an election must be at least five days old on Nomination Day."No the list will not be published as long as the election is on because the law does not allow me to publish a list less than five days before Nomination Day if an election is to be held," Mr. Fisher said.The Director of Elections explained that new electors in North East St. Ann will therefore not be able to cast ballots in next month's by-election as the May 31 Voters' List will be used.It is not yet known how many persons will be affected."This simply means that persons who were registered since the publication of the May 31st Voters' List will not be able to vote in the upcoming by-election," Mr. Fisher said.It will be known later Tuesday whether the Court of Appeal will impose an order, blocking the holding of the by-election in North East St. Ann.On Friday, attorneys for former People's National Party Member of Parliament, Manley Bowen, applied for the order hours after Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced the by-election.Mr. Bowen and his attorneys are insisting the election cannot be held until his appeal is heard in March next year. The attorneys have cited section 22 of the Election Petitions Act, which bars the holding of the by-election until the entire matter surrounding the seat is settled in court.