The people of Jamaica will go to the polls today, Thursday, September 3, 2020, to decide whether the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), led by Andrew M. Holness, left, or the People's National Party (PNP), led by Dr David D. Phillips, right, will form the Government for the next five years. Photo: Jamaica Observer

1,913,410 Jamaicans have been registered to vote today, September 3, 2020. Photo: Jamaica Observer

A total of 139 candidates have been nominated to contest the election with the two major political parties accounting for 126 of that number.

JLP vs PNP

The JLP is led by the incumbent Andrew M. Holness while the PNP is led by Dr Peter D. Phillips.

Both leaders have expressed confidence they will lead their party to victory.

According to Jamaica Observer, the two leaders are well aware that it will be a handful of seats — no more than 20 — which will determine the election as the two parties start with a number of constituencies in which it would be an upset of monumental proportions if they were to lose.

Just over 882,000 people, or 48.3 per cent of the 1,824,412 individuals on the voters' list, voted in 2016, and with rain in the forecast for many parishes today, plus the fears surrounding the novel coronavirus pandemic, both political parties will have to pull out all the stops to get their support of the 1,913,410 Jamaicans registered to vote this time around.

COVID-19 positive persons can vote

In the meantime, the Government has given approval for people in quarantine, even those positive for COVID-19, to vote, but with strict protocols.

Under the rules people, required to remain in quarantine, other than those who are required to remain in isolation from others, may leave quarantine once to vote, during the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm and shall immediately after voting return to quarantine.

In addition to wearing a mask over the nose and mouth, they are required to observe protocols of the polling station and maintain physical distancing.

Similarly, people required to remain in isolation from others may leave quarantine once for the purpose of voting during the hours of 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm and shall immediately after voting return to quarantine in isolation from other people.

Electronic voter identification system

The electronic voter identification system, which is computer-based and requires voters to place a specific finger on a fingerprint scanner to be issued a ballot, will be used in six constituencies — St Andrew Western; St Andrew West Central; Kingston Eastern and Port Royal; St Andrew East Rural, St Catherine Central, and St Catherine Eastern.

The polls open at 7:00 am and close at 5:00 pm, with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica is projecting that a result should be available by 10:00 pm.

Virgin Islands News Online will be the first to bring you results.

Tune into CBN-Radio 90.9FM at 6PM 03 September for live coverage of the Jamaican General Elections: Online www.cbnvirginislands.com