TLDR;
This video serves as a training guide for election day workers in Jamaica, outlining key procedures for ensuring free and fair elections. It covers various scenarios from the opening to the closing of the poll, including how to handle ordinary electors, those without ID cards, individuals not on the voter's list, and electors with disabilities. It also addresses challenges, personation, spoiled ballots, and the critical steps for closing the poll and preparing for the preliminary count.
- Outlines procedures for election day workers.
- Covers scenarios like electors without ID, those not on the list, and electors with disabilities.
- Details the handling of challenges, personation, and spoiled ballots.
- Explains the closing of the poll and preparation for the preliminary count.
Introduction [0:00]
The Electoral Office of Jamaica acknowledges the importance of election day workers in ensuring free and fair elections. This training video reinforces concepts and procedures from the training manual for election day workers and complements training sessions. The video is divided into three parts, covering the opening of the poll, the taking of the poll, and the closing of the poll. Polling officials are expected to report for duty at least one hour before the poll opens, arriving no later than 6:00 a.m., to prepare for the day.
Opening of the Poll [0:54]
Before the polls open, the presiding officer, with the assistance of the poll clerk, must prepare the polling station, ensuring adequate materials are available. They should post the flag, notices, instructions, and directions outside, and Form 7 inside the voting booth, along with pencils. Relevant documents must be present. Candidates' appointed agents are invited to the polling station, and their appointments are accepted and affirmed. Agents may leave with permission but must return an hour before closing. Election day supplies are examined with agents, ballots are counted, and signed certificates of ballot paper issued to agents. If no agents are present 15 minutes before opening, the ballot papers are counted with the poll clerk. The returning officer is notified of any issues delaying the opening. Transfer certificates from indoor agents are received, the ballot box is examined, locked, and placed on the presiding officer's table. The polls are declared open at 7 a.m., and electors are allowed to cast their votes. Envelopes are arranged for use at the close of the poll, and during lulls, election forms are pre-completed.
The Ordinary Elector [5:42]
Only authorized personnel are allowed in the polling station, including the presiding officer, poll clerk, and indoor agents. If indoor agents are absent, one elector can represent each candidate upon request. Candidates and their agents should not be in the polling station for more than five consecutive minutes. Observers can enter to observe procedures, with a maximum of four allowed at a time unless authorized by the ECJ. An ordinary elector is one who has their elector registration identification card (voter ID) and is not required to take an oath. The elector provides their name, address and occupation, then the poll clerk locates the elector's information on the voters' list and marks it accordingly. The elector's fingers are checked for electoral ink, and they are instructed on how to mark the ballot using a specimen ballot as an example. After marking the ballot, the elector folds it so that the presiding officer's initials are shown and returns it. The right index finger of the elector is stained with electoral ink, and then the ballot is deposited into The Ballot Box.
Elector Without ID Card [9:00]
If an elector's name is on the voter's list but they don't have their voter ID, they'll be asked specific questions based on their registration information and must take an oath to establish their identity. The presiding officer checks demographic information in the blackbook by asking appropriate questions to verify the elector's identity. The elector's fingerprint is taken. The oath is administered in the form of a question, and if the elector affirms, they are given a ballot. The elector is instructed on how to mark the ballot, fold it, and return it. If an elector takes the required oath, they must be furnished with a ballot. However, an elector who refuses to be sworn or answer questions is not given a ballot, even if they later change their mind. The words "refuse to swear," "refuse to affirm," or "refuse to answer" must be recorded.
Elector Not on the List [14:05]
When an elector comes to the polling station and their name is not on the voter's list, they should be advised to speak with the election day supervisor or call the EOJ toll-free number.
Incorrect Spelling on Voters' List [15:22]
If there's an incorrect spelling of an elector's name on the voters' list, the presiding officer asks questions from the black book to ascertain the elector's identity. The presiding officer must administer oath number nine to the elector. The poll clerk records the correct spelling of the elector's name and pertinent information in the poll book. The elector's name as it appears on the official voters list is recorded in the remarks column using the words "on list as." The elector is then instructed on how to mark the ballot.
Challenging An Elector [18:46]
If there is an objection to an elector receiving a ballot paper or their right to vote, the grounds for the objection must be clearly stated by the agent of the candidate. Objections made by agents of candidates must be recorded. If there's an objection about an elector's qualification as a citizen, they will be asked to take an oath. Once the elector's name is on the voter's list and the presiding officer is satisfied with their identity, the elector must be allowed to vote. The elector is required to take oath number 10. The presiding officer notes the objection in the poll book.
Personated Elector [23:00]
A personated elector is someone who is told that someone has already voted in their name. In this case, the elector must be advised of the situation and the procedure to be followed to get a ballot paper. The elector will be required to answer questions to satisfy the presiding officer as to their identity and will be required to take an oath. The presiding officer checks the elector's fingers for electoral ink and asks questions from the black book to verify their identity. If satisfied, the presiding officer allows the elector to vote. The poll clerk records oath form number 11 in the column for form numbers of oaths. The poll clerk inserts the word "second ballot issued" and the consecutive number given to the personator in the poll book. The poll clerk should record the elector's name, consecutive number of elector on voter's list, and the words "sworn or affirmed" on the right-hand side of the poll book.
The Blind Elector [28:28]
Under the representation of the people act, electors who are blind or otherwise unable to mark the ballot without assistance because of a disability have the right to participate in the voting process with the assistance of a friend or with the assistance of the presiding officer. The presiding officer must outline the two options available to the elector: a friend can mark the ballot, or the presiding officer can mark it in the presence of the poll clerk and sworn agents. The options should not be given in the presence of the friend. The presiding officer must administer oath of the blind elector (oath number 13) to the blind elector and the oath of friend of blind elector (oath number 14) to the friend of the blind elector. No person is allowed to act as the friend of more than one elector in an election. The poll clerk should record the oath number 13 and the word sworn or affirmed in respective Columns of the poll book. Oath number 14 is not to be recorded in the poll book. The presiding officer gives the friend of the blind elector the necessary instructions on how to properly mark, fold, and return the ballot. Only the finger of the blind elector is immersed in the Electoral ink. The poll clerk should record "blindness ballot marked by friend" in the remarks column of the poll book.
Incapacitated Elector [35:46]
Even if an elector attends the polling station alone, the presiding officer must advise them of the available options for assistance. The elector is required to take an oath. The presiding officer administers oath of incapacitated elector (oath number 12) to the elector with a physical disability other than blindness. The presiding officer then marks the ballot as directed by the elector in the presence of the poll clerk and of the sworn agents of the candidates. If an election observer is present inside the polling station, they should not be present at the table or in earshot of the blind or incapacitated elector giving information on the candidate for whom they wish the presiding officer to mark the ballot.
Elector Refuses to Dip [38:44]
If an elector, having marked the ballot paper and returned it to the presiding officer, refuses to immerse their finger in the electoral ink, the presiding officer should deem the ballot spoiled. The presiding officer should deface the ballot paper by removing the counter foil and destroying it, drawing a line through their initials, writing the words "refused to dip" across the ballot, and punching a hole through it. The ballot paper is then placed in the envelope labeled form E8 for spoiled ballots. A line is drawn through the elector's name on the presiding officer's official voter's list, and "refused to dip" is written. The poll clerk is instructed to record "refused to dip" in the remarks column of the poll book. A line is drawn through the elector's name on the official voters list used by the poll clerk, and "refused to dip" is recorded beside the elector's name.
Spoiled Ballot Paper [43:02]
If an elector declares they made a mistake on the ballot, they should return it folded to the presiding officer, who should not inspect it. The presiding officer defaces the returned ballot by removing and destroying the counter foil, drawing a line through their initials, writing "spoiled" across the ballot, and punching a hole through it. The ballot paper is placed in the envelope labeled form E8 for spoiled ballots. The poll clerk records the serial number of the returned ballot paper, places a dash in the first column of the poll book below the elector's details, and records the serial number of the second ballot issued. When the second ballot is returned, its serial number is recorded in the same line.
Closing of the Poll [48:10]
The poll closes at 5:00 p.m. All eligible electors within the precinct of the polling location who are desirous of voting must be allowed to cast their vote. At 5:00 p.m., the presiding officer declares the poll closed. The presiding officer should note the last person in line and instruct the polling station security assistant not to allow anyone else to join. The EDW cluster supervisor is contacted to check for electors within the precinct. Once everyone has voted, the presiding officer seals the slot on top of the ballot box, examines the poll book, and writes a statement below the last entry indicating the number of persons who voted, signing and drawing a diagonal line after the statement. At least two witnesses are admitted if official agents are absent. All spoiled ballots are checked and packaged, and the number is recorded on the envelope labeled form E8. If there are no spoiled ballots, the word "none" is inserted. All sealed envelopes must be signed by the indoor agents. All unused ballots are counted and packaged, and the number is recorded on the envelope labeled form E5. The number of ballots spoiled, unused, and the number of persons who voted are reconciled against the number of ballots supplied by the returning officer. The table is cleared to prepare for the preliminary count. Tally sheets are distributed to the poll clerk and agents. The ballot box is opened, and ballot papers are removed one at a time, unfolded, and counted audibly, showing the ballots to the poll clerk and agents. Ballots cast for each candidate are placed in separate piles. The law allows for ballot papers to be rejected for specific reasons, such as not being supplied by the presiding officer, not marked for any candidate, marked for more than one candidate, having markings that could identify the elector, or marked with an instrument other than the provided pencil. A ballot should not be rejected if the presiding officer failed to remove the counter foil or place their initials in the designated spot. The unfolded ballot papers cast for each candidate are placed in the respective color-coded envelope labeled form E14, and the number of ballots cast for each candidate is written on the respective envelope. The unfolded rejected ballot papers are placed in the envelope labeled form E7, and the number of ballots enclosed is written on the envelope. The statement of the poll is completed after counting the ballots at the back of the poll book. The statement of the poll after counting the ballots (form 19) is completed, the original is placed in the envelope labeled form E6, and each agent is given their color-coded copy. The preliminary statement of the poll affixed to the ballot box is completed. The certificate of the preliminary count of the pole is completed in quadruplicate. The original is placed in the envelope labeled form E9, and color-coded copies are issued to the agents. The polling station account is completed and placed in the form E9 envelope. Letters of appointment of candidates' agents, official voters list, and transfer certificates are packaged in the envelope labeled form E10, except for the presiding officer's official voters list. All remaining papers, unused envelopes and forms, pencils, pen, ink, notices, ink pad, tissue, etc., are packaged in the envelope labeled form E12 addressed to the director of elections. The ballot box key is placed into the envelope labeled form E2 and placed into the envelope labeled form E9. The envelope labeled for E6 is placed into The Ballot Box. The envelopes labeled form E5, E7, E8, E10, e14 and E15 along with the poll book are placed into the large plastic envelope labeled form E1, then the sealed form E1 envelope is placed Into The Ballot Box. All envelopes must be signed by the presiding officer, poll clerk, and agents. The black book is placed Into The Ballot Box. Only three items must be placed into The Ballot Box: envelope labeled form E6, the envelope labeled form E1, and the black book. The ballot box is locked with the padlock and the lid is sealed with The Ballot Box seal provided. Agents are allowed to place their seals on The Ballot Box. The envelope labeled form E9 is taped on top of the ballot box. The ballot box, presiding officer's voters list, and other documents are delivered to the ED cluster supervisor.