Voting in the country’s 17th general election since the advent of Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944 starts this morning at 8:00 when members of the police, military and Election Day workers start casting their ballots at 195 polling locations across the island.

A total of 26,498 Election Day workers, 10,041 members of the police force, and 2,569 soldiers are on the current voters’ list.

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 general population to ensure that they are available for duty on Election Day.

Director of Elections Orrette Fisher says it is “all systems go” for today’s vote while further informing that preparations are in high gear and running smoothly when the majority of the over 1.8 million enumerated Jamaicans are expected to go to the polls on Thursday.

“The names of all selected Election Day workers, police and military personnel have been separated from the official voters’ list to be used on Election Day. The special services personnel will vote at the voting location closest to where they are based. The ballots will later be sorted and transferred to the respective returning officers to be counted on February 25.

The list of polling locations for today’s vote includes schools, churches, police stations, court houses and military bases.

“We are ready for tomorrow (today). Everything is in place and we are working to ensure a smooth day of voting. It is a case of all systems go,” Fisher told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Fisher cautioned that “police and military personnel, as well as Election Day workers who wish to vote must do so today as 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”.

“We at the EOJ have worked closely with the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force to ensure that the lists for police and military voters were prepared in time. We have also informed Election Day workers of their voting day through phone calls, text messages and via the media. The polling stations and staff are equipped and ready to go, so we are expecting the proceedings to go smoothly,” he said.

Commenting further on preparations for Thursday, Fisher indicated that nearly all the ballot papers have been printed and safely secured and that Election Day workers are ready to deal with all eventualities.

“I can confirm that all ballots for the general election have been printed and have been put in a safe place awaiting Thursday’s poll,” he said. “The Electoral Office has completed all the necessary training and more of all Election Day workers and we are just waiting now to start issuing ballots, which will take place later this week.”

Polling stations for today’s vote close at 4:00 pm, while on Thursday the polls are scheduled to open at 7:00 am and close at 5:00 pm.