Screaming need for absentee ballot voting in Jamaica among other things

[1FryDumplin]

So what did we learn from the Jamaica elections? The list is too long but here are a few things:
1) From a logistics perspective at a minimum, the PNP needs new leadership. Ms P will be 75 when the next election rolls around so obviously there is a need for someone with a little more pep in their step and new innovative ideas as to how to move that party forward. Every country needs an opposition party to keep the ruling party on their toes producing initiatives to advance the country or else the opposition will be brought in by the people. The carry go bring come about whose house big and whose glass half full cannot work. People want more substance in the discussion about how to bring prosperity to the shores of Jamaica.
2) Electoral reform is badly needed and obviously the introduction of absentee ballot voting needs to be at the top of the list. Things like this are not supposed to still be happening which prevents a large percentage of the electorate from voting.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160226/former-assistant-commissioner-police-was-lifted-stairs-cast-his-vote

Also with such a low voter turnout, questions emerge if this is truly “government by the people”. Absentee ballot voting would without doubt increase voter turnout.
3) I saw more but did you see any of them too?

[Tropicana]

The question is why was voter turnout low. From the people I have spoken with, they saw little difference between the 2 parties.

Jamaica has huge structural and systemic problems. The big foreign players (Spanish hotels, cruise ships, NEXUS and other foreign tour operators, etc.) are taking a huge chunk out of money that should be going to local businesses. Why has the Government allowed this? Will the new Government do anything about it? People are working harder and harder and seeing less in their pockets.

How does one send an email to Andrew Holness anyway?

[Tropicana]

I hope this works. http://opm.gov.jm/contact-us

[evanovitch]

So what did we learn from the Jamaica elections? The list is too long but here are a few things:
1) From a logistics perspective at a minimum, the PNP needs new leadership. Ms P will be 75 when the next election rolls around so obviously there is a need for someone with a little more pep in their step and new innovative ideas as to how to move that party forward. Every country needs an opposition party to keep the ruling party on their toes producing initiatives to advance the country or else the opposition will be brought in by the people. The carry go bring come about whose house big and whose glass half full cannot work. People want more substance in the discussion about how to bring prosperity to the shores of Jamaica.
2) Electoral reform is badly needed and obviously the introduction of absentee ballot voting needs to be at the top of the list. Things like this are not supposed to still be happening which prevents a large percentage of the electorate from voting.



Also with such a low voter turnout, questions emerge if this is truly “government by the people”. Absentee ballot voting would without doubt increase voter turnout.
3) I saw more but did you see any of them too?

If the implication is that absentee voting would have put PNP back in power, the question is, y so many of their supporters feel the need to live off the island...if their part doing such a wonderful job all these long terms they have governed, y not be on the island repeating the benefits...ah Sah


let me refresh the memories re what Joshua once said:

'Democracy means far more than the right to vote every five years. It means the right to participate in every aspect of national and community life. The people must believe that they can take part.'
Hon Michael 'Joshua' Manley

[1FryDumplin]

If the implication is that absentee voting would have put PNP back in power, the question is, y so many of their supporters feel the need to live off the island...if their part doing such a wonderful job all these long terms they have governed, y not be on the island repeating the benefits...ah Sah


let me refresh the memories re what Joshua once said:

'Democracy means far more than the right to vote every five years. It means the right to participate in every aspect of national and community life. The people must believe that they can take part.'
Hon Michael 'Joshua' Manley

The screaming need for absentee ballot voting in Jamaica has nothing to do with who the winner of the election is. The JLP could have won just as well or better with it, but that is NOT the point. The point is to get people involved in the process, especially the young people. No matter who wins if the government does not have the support (buy-in) of the people the potential progress of the country is doomed. What I am talking about is bigger than who wins. During the seventies, eighties and beyond Jamaica saw substantial brain-drain. Mostly all the young smart talented people couldn’t wait to get the next flight out, off the island because the people did not buy into the actions of the government. Without these engines of success the economy kept sinking. If you don’t get people involved and wanting to be a part of the development, then the development will not happen and the country will fall deeper into despair.

[evanovitch]

The screaming need for absentee ballot voting in Jamaica has nothing to do with who the winner of the election is. The JLP could have won just as well or better with it, but that is NOT the point. The point is to get people involved in the process, especially the young people. No matter who wins if the government does not have the support (buy-in) of the people the potential progress of the country is doomed. What I am talking about is bigger than who wins. During the seventies, eighties and beyond Jamaica saw substantial brain-drain. Mostly all the young smart talented people couldn’t wait to get the next flight out, off the island because the people did not buy into the actions of the government. Without these engines of success the economy kept sinking. If you don’t get people involved and wanting to be a part of the development, then the development will not happen and the country will fall deeper into despair.

the attempt to involve us save remittance was stymied by the outgoing government's block of 'green card' holders...they found support in that...if the issue comes to a referendum, their supporters who failed to vote in the election , could, in continuing the party's on record disapproval of the issue, vote this go round along the party line...plus the diehard garrison politics is alive n well in the diaspora...many may voice the platitudes re things must get better on the island, but the silent caveat is , 'ongle if is fi dem party in power fi dem work with n for'

[Tuff Gong]

I think only Jamaicans living in Jamaica should vote in Jamaica's Elections.

[Peasie]

I think only Jamaicans living in Jamaica should vote in Jamaica's Elections.

Many Jamaicans living in Jamaica could really use absentee ballots. Many couldn't get to their assigned polling places.

[Tuff Gong]

Many Jamaicans living in Jamaica could really use absentee ballots. Many couldn't get to their assigned polling places.

The problem is not the ability to get to Polling Places the problem is all the things that has gone wrong with Governance in Jamaica.

There are more Roads now, more vehicles in Jamaica than say even 30 years ago. In other years Polling Places were at Community Centers, local shops, Post Offices, Police Stations, Court Houses. Folks would arrive overnight to vote and/or the Party would transport voters to the Polling Stations.

Now there are less of all those places, more violence, more factionalism and widespread poverty. These all play in making it more difficult to get to a Polling Station if you are motivated enough to vote.
With Absentee Ballots you have to still get the Paper you marked to the place where it needs to be. Jamaicans wait for days to get mail from one end of a Parish to the other, sometimes never even receiving the item mailed. I can see this been all kinds of headache getting your vote to where it needs to be. Now if an Absentee or Real Time Ballot could be entered online/cell/text, then I think this could be a real good solution.

[Wahalla]

I think only Jamaicans living in Jamaica should vote in Jamaica's Elections.

I concur....

[1FryDumplin]

Many Jamaicans living in Jamaica could really use absentee ballots. Many couldn't get to their assigned polling places.

With only approximately 48% of Jamaicans voting I would easily venture to say that very close to 25% or more of the total electorate are afraid to get to their assigned polling places due to the real fear of political violence.

Absentee ballots would be a huge help for these individuals so that their stifled voices could be heard in the electoral process. And yes the absentee ballots being mentioned here are intended only for Jamaicans living in Jamaica and I am sure there are enough competent people there who could work out the implementation details for this to be a success.

If you don’t get your best and brightest people involved in nation building (including their buy-in by voting) they will eventually leave and go build another nation somewhere else, leaving your nation behind to perish.

[Tuff Gong]

With only approximately 48% of Jamaicans voting I would easily venture to say that very close to 25% or more of the total electorate are afraid to get to their assigned polling places due to the real fear of political violence.

Where do you get this 25% from? Who said others wanted to vote? Where and how would get these Absentee Ballots?

Absentee ballots would be a huge help for these individuals so that their stifled voices could be heard in the electoral process.

There voices are heard. Unfortunately, if you are eligible to vote and don't vote. By default you vote for the winner!

[1FryDumplin]

Where do you get this 25% from? Who said others wanted to vote? Where and how would get these Absentee Ballots?

There voices are heard. Unfortunately, if you are eligible to vote and don't vote. By default you vote for the winner!

25% is my conservative guess of the percentage of people who do not vote due to fear of political violence. My gut feeling is that it is more than 25%. I know people from both parties JLP and PNP who want to vote but simply do not vote because of fear of political violence. If you have never used absentee ballots before just do a little research the information is out there. Also I personally do not believe that because people are intimidated into not voting means that their voices were heard. And certainly not voting does not mean that they voted. I am unable to make sense of that one. It just seems convoluted to me. There is always a lot of obsession with who the leader is while nobody cares that the country keeps falling deeper into a perpetual recession.

[Tuff Gong]

25% is my conservative guess of the percentage of people who do not vote due to fear of political violence. My gut feeling is that it is more than 25%. I know people from both parties JLP and PNP who want to vote but simply do not vote because of fear of political violence.

You have decided, yet provided zero proof that 25% of Jamaicans do not go to vote in Elections because of fear? You have recommended Absentee Ballots as the solution. Why would you think acquiring then casting an Absentee Ballot would protect the Voter and/or the Ballot from violent acts?
From my experience voter apathy in Jamaica is a complex mix of fear, Government that does not seem to work, Religion.
Some Christians have refused to take part in the Political process due to their religion. Some Rastas likewise. There are folks living in some garrisons who are of different persuasion who are fearful. Then there are others who have been brought up in a culture where voting is just too much trouble that does not do anything for them anyway.
Jamaica Elections have become less violent than they ever was, yet participation at the Ballot box have been steadily falling, over all Election cycles since 1980, no matter the stakes. I can't see the Magical Absentee Ballot as a solution!

[j-kid]

Mi second dis!

Now if an Absentee or Real Time Ballot could be entered online/cell/text, then I think this could be a real good solution.