ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA PRESENTATION ON THE ROLE

ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA PRESENTATION ON: THE ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN POLLING CENTRES. ELECTORAL COMM. JAMAICA ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 1

THE ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN POLLING CENTRES WHY ALLOW? • TO PROVIDE CANDIDATES AND POL. PARTIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO MONITOR ELECTION ACTIVITIES &PARTICIPATE IN THE CONDUCT OF THE VOTE, TO ENSURE FURTHER TRANSPARENCYAND THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS IS MAINTAINED. ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 2

PARTY WORKERS /AGENTS – FUNCTIONS AT THE POLL. • PARTY LIAISON OFFICERSADMINISTRATIVE CATEGORY FUNCTIONING AS CLUSTER SUPERVISORS ON BEHALF OF PARTY. ONE LIAISON OFFICER FOR EACH PARTY AT A CLUSTER. THIS CATEGORY OPERATES BY STRICT GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL AUTHORITY ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 3

OUTDOOR AGENTS • OTDOOR AGENTS MONITOR THE EXTENT OF VOTER TURNOUT • MONITOR THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING THE POLLING LOCATION. ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 4

INDOOR AGENTS • INSPECT BALLOT BOX AND ALL OTHER ELECTION MATERIAL PRIOR TO THE OPENING OF POLLING STATION. • OBSERVE ALL ACTIVITIES WITHINTHE POLLING STATION EXCEPTING THE MARKING OF BALLOTS BY THE ELECTORS. • WITNESS THE MARKING OF BALLOTS BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER FOR VOTERS WHO ARE VISUALLY OR PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED AS THE LAW ALLOWS. • MOUNT A CHALLENGE TO ANY ELECTOR ‘S RIGHT TO VOTE AT POLLING STATION ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 5

INDOOR AGENTS CONT’D • OBSERVE THE PROCEDURES AT CLOSE OF POLL. • ESCORT THE BALLOT BOX TO THE COUNTING CENTRE& WITNESS THE HANDING OVER TO THE RETURNING OFFICER. ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 6

POL. PARTIES &POLL WORKERS are prohibited from: • ON ELECTION DAY-ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE OR INTIMIDATE THE VOTERS. • ATTEMPTING TO INTIMIDATE , HARASS, OR OTHERWISE THREATEN OR INTERFERE WITH THE WORK OF ANY ELECTORAL OFFICIAL. ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 7

PARTY POLL WORKERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO : • REMOVE ANY OFFICIAL ELECTION MATERIAL FROM THE POLLING STATION. • INTRODUCE ANY PURPORTED OFFICIAL ELECTION MATERIAL IN THE POLLING STATION. • ATTEMPT TO DESTROY ANY OFFICIAL ELECTION MATERIAL. • CAMPAIGN FOR VOTES WITHIN THE STATION. • PROVIDE VOTERS WITH FALSE INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE AT THAT POLLING STATION OR IN THAT ELECTION ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 8

MODELS FOR PARTICIPATION • THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION CONDUCTS TRAINING SEMINARS FOR ALL AGENTS/PARTY WORKERS. • PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR CANDIDATES ON THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND HOW TO COMPLETE THE NOMINATION PAPER. • PROVIDE SUPPORTING TRAINING MATERIALS FOR ALL CATEGORIES. • PROVIDE RENUMERATION FOR INDOOR AGENTS WORKING AT POLLING STATIONS. ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 9

MODELS FOR PARTICIPATION • THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION ESTABLISH AN ELECTION CENTRE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MONITORING ALL ELECTION DAY ACTIVITIES. ALL MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS ARE REPRESENTED INCLUDING CIVIL SOCIETY. ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF JAMAICA 10