Letter of the Day | Make voting more convenient
Published:Thursday | October 31, 2024 | 12:08 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Would it not be far better, for Jamaica’s democracy, for our nation, and for the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) if, as happens in the United States of America – the beacon of democracy – voting began weeks ahead of election day?
At present, Jamaica’s election day takes place on one day only, which, to me, makes for a longer and more inconvenient process than needs be. If polling stations were opened three or two weeks or even one week in advance, it seems to me that the inordinate amount of time spent, for the average person to cast his/her ballot, would be, significantly, reduced; the time spent, by the EOJ, to count ballots, would be reduced; the time spent away from work, by employees and employers, to vote, would be greatly reduced; voter turnout would, likely, increase.
Last, though electronic voting has yet to be introduced onto Jamaica’s electoral landscape, it seems to me that polling stations could be set up and opened, at least a week in advance of election day. The realisation of a more flexible, more inclusive, and smoother voting process would, by extension, serve to strengthen Jamaica’s democracy and make for more content and more satisfied members of the electorate.
PATRICK GALLIMORE