KINGSTON, Jamaica — Election day workers, police and military personnel will go to the polls on Monday, February 22, three days before the rest of the population, who are scheduled to vote on February 25.

According to a news release from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), a total of 26,498 Election Day workers, 10,041 police officers, and 2,569 soldiers will cast their votes between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm in 282 locations across the island.

The ECJ explained in their release Tuesday that under the Representation of the People Act, provisions are made for military and police personnel, as well as election day workers, to vote three days before the rest of the population, to ensure that they are available for duty on election day.

The names of all selected election day workers, police and military personnel have therefore been separated from the official voters list to be used on election day, the commission said.

“The special services personnel will vote at the voting location closest to where they are based,” the release said. “The ballots will later be sorted and transferred to the respective returning officers to be counted on February 25.”

Director of Elections Orrette Fisher has cautioned the special service electors that they can only vote on February 22.

“Police, military and election day workers who wish to vote must do so on February 22. They will not be able to vote on February 25, as the civilian list is the only list that will be used on that day,” Fisher said.

He added that election day workers will be notified via telephone calls or text message of the date, location and polling stations in which they will cast their votes.