COMPLAINTS from some members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in St Catherine that there were no ballots for them to vote at the polling stations where their names appeared on the voters’ list, and a soldier at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Up Park Camp base who claimed he was told that his vote was at the base in Moneague, St Ann, marred what was otherwise a smooth process as they and election day workers cast their ballots on Thursday.

Just over 40,500 special services electors were on the list to cast their ballots ahead of the February 26 Local Government Elections in keeping with the law which says the police, soldiers, and election day workers should vote three days before the rest of Jamaica.

The 40,500 included 10,544 police, 4,882 soldiers, and 25,088 election day workers.

Across the island there were reports of a steady turnout of voters during the day with election day workers making up the vast majority of those who cast their ballots.

At the JDF base at Up Park Camp there was a steady flow of soldiers from shortly after the polls opened at 8:00 am with the 25 polling stations busy when the
Jamaica Observer visited.

Voting was slow at the JCF Special Operations base in Vineyard Town, St Andrew, as policemen and women cast their ballots.

Reports from journalists across the island suggested that the voter turnout was in the region of 40 per cent but the Electoral Office of Jamaica had not issued the official numbers up to press time.

According to sources, members of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica were in meetings up to late evening trying to determine how to address the members of the security forces who did not get to vote as scheduled Thursday.