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It is a high-stakes contest in the Aenon Town division in Clarendon on Friday as a win in the by-election for the People's National Party could shift the balance of power in the Clarendon Municipal Corporation.
Aenon Town, a traditionally strong division for the PNP, was won by the Jamaica Labour Party in February's municipal elections.
That victory tipped the Clarendon Municipal Corporation in the JLP's favour, with 12 divisions to the PNP's 10. A win for the PNP today will produce a tie, that could hand them control of the parish through the popular vote.
Delroy Dawson, a two-time PNP councillor defeated by Majorie McLeod-McFarlane in February this year, is vying for a comeback against the current JLP candidate, Suzette Barton.
Mrs. McLeod-McFarlane, who defeated Mr. Dawson by 92 votes, died on September 1, creating the vacancy in the division.
Radio Jamaica's Dwayne Anderson, who is in the division, reported slow voting at the Trout Hall polling station.
He observed that tents have been set up outside with representatives of both political parties who are assisting residents in the voting process.
The Electoral Office of Jamaica said, as at a 11 a.m., the voter turnout in the division was 19.01 per cent.
Morant Bay
In the Morant Bay division, where People's National Party supporters had been clamouring for a by-election, the contest is between political newcomer and high school vice principal representing the Jamaica Labour Party, Winston Downie, and his People's National Party counterpart, Rose Marie Shaw.
Radio Jamaica correspondent Henry Shirley, who has been observing the voting at polling stations, described scenes of jubilant supporters of both political parties at the polling station located at Lyssons Primary School.
He also sought reactions to a complaint from the PNP about thugs in the Lyssons area tearing down orange flags and firing shots on Thursday morning.
The police, he said, were tight-lipped about the incident, however, the lawmen as well as the military maintained a presence in the area as steady voting took place.
The EOJ reported a voter turnout of 13.65 per cent at 11 a.m.
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