The three by-elections slated for October 30 are set to cost $80 m.

By elections became necessary in South St. Andrew and South West St. Andrew, following the resignation of the People’s National Party’s Dr. Omar Davis and Portia Simpson Miller respectively.

Meantime, the South East St. Mary seat became vacant upon the death of Dr. Winston Green also from the PNP.

The traditional PNP strong holds of South West and South St. Andrew will be contested by Dr. Angela Brown Burke and Mark Golding respectively with Dr. Shane Alexis hoping to cop the South East St. Mary seat.

Victor Hyde will be hoping to make a dent in the PNP’s bastion of South West St. Andrew, so too is Dennis Messias in South St. Andrew, with Dr. Norman Dunn hoping that the second time will be the charm in South East St. Mary.

Director of Elections Orette Fisher says he has already been in dialogue with the Finance Ministry to release the necessary funds for the hosting of the elections.

Mr. Fisher says he is also awaiting word from King’s House prior to speaking with returning officers.

He adds that the team was already being trained and prepared for the elections.

Meantime, the Electoral Office will be using electronic voting in two of the three constituencies for the October 30 by-election.

Director of Elections Orette Fisher states that electronic voting will be undertaken in South West St. Andrew and South St. Andrew.

Elections in South East St. Mary will be paper based.

Mr. Fisher says the logistics for the St. Mary constituency proved prohibitive for the electronic system.

He adds that there will be a simulation exercise for voters in the St. Andrew constituencies.