Preliminary results of today’s (Apl 27) by-elections in the Yallahs and May Pen North divisions are expected in another few minutes.
This as voting ended at 5:00 pm and counting is underway.
Voters went to the polls to elect their local representatives, who will sit in the St. Thomas, and Clarendon municipal corporations.
Low voter turn-out characterized today’s proceedings, at the 61 polling stations, across the two electoral divisions.
8,286 electors were registered to vote, in the May Pen North division, and 9,145 in the Yallahs division.
Acting Director of Elections Glasspole Brown says voting was smooth and there was no major incident reported at polling stations.
The candidates vying for the Yallahs division are the JLP’s John Lee and PNP’s Constantine Bogle.
Meanwhile, Tanya Lee Williams of the JLP and Earl Blake of the PNP are contesting the May Pen North division.
….And, slow and steady voting was the order of the day in the Yallahs division in St. Thomas.
When Irie FM News checked the four polling stations at the Yallahs Basic School this morning, few voters could be seen in the lines.
Meanwhile, the pace was faster at the Ttrinity Baptist Church, which housed three polling stations.
Lines extended from the church building towards the gate, with younger persons assisting the elderly, with the voting process.
Residents from Yallahs went out to cast their votes, as early as seven a-m, when the voting began.
When Irie FM News spoke with Deputy Director of Elections Earl Simpson earlier today, he expressed satisfaction with the process.
The by-election in the Yallahs division became necessary, following a Supreme Court ruling, declaring the 2016 election in that division null and void.
And no line was observed at the polling stations in Clarendon visited by Irie FM News, today.
Occasionally one or two persons were seen entering the compound of the polling stations to cast their ballots.
Although voter turn-out was low in the May Pen north division, majority of the persons observed at the six polling stations at the Treadlight primary school were clad in green, depicting support for the Jamaica Labour Party.
When an Irie FM News correspondent caught up with Member of Parliament for Central Clarendon, Mike Henry, he expressed optimism that the JLP’s candidate, Tanya Lee Williams, would come away the victor.
Meantime, over in the race track community, the People’s National Party support was more dominant, with people clad in orange.
The PNP’s Earl Blake is contesting the division.
PNP supporter Gerald Bartley says Mr. Blake is an active member of the community, who volunteers his service for the development of the community and is best suited to take over the reins of the division.