ECJ workers resign to facilitate probe by Electoral Commission

There has been major fallout in the East Central St James constituency, stemming from the ongoing investigation by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica into the alleged tampering of ballots in the constituency, during the December General Election.

The ECJ announced that the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer in the constituency both tendered their resignation, to facilitate the Commission's probe.

The ECJ has also instructed the Director of Elections not to deploy the Election Day workers who served in the constituency during the General Election to serve in the constituency, in the upcoming Local Government Election.

In the December 29 General Election, the Jamaica Labour Party's Edmund Bartlett narrowly defeated the People's National Party's Cedric Stewart in the hotly-contested seat.

Mr Stewart has since threatened to file a petition before the Supreme Court, after 162 ballots were rejected during the Magisterial Recount.

Concerned about developments in the recount,  the Electoral Commission launched an investigation to determine how the ballots cast by election-day workers were damaged at Polling Division 50.

According to the ECJ, the ballot box from Polling Station 50 contained a total of 455 ballots:--- 386 ballots cast by Election-Day Workers, who voted on December 22; and 69 ballots cast by electors, who voted on December 29.

It said that from even the most cursory analysis, it is clear that the vast majority of the 162 rejected ballots would be ballots cast by Election-Day Workers, who are among the most knowledgeable and proficient of electors.

The ECJ says this raises questions which, in one way or another, could undermine the integrity of the electoral process if they are not answered definitively, and acted upon appropriately and decisively.

Chairman of the ECJ, Professor Errol Miller, said the ECJ's decision  aims to protect the integrity of the electoral system.

Professor Miller added that the ECJ is determined to find out how the ballots got damaged.

Meanwhile, Mr. Stewart's attorney Clayton Morgan says they are still considering whether to take the matter before the Supreme Court.

They have until Thursday February 9 to file the action.

They are also asking for a forensic audit into the matter.