The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) is coming under public scrutiny for its failure in completing the official tabulation of ballots and declaration of a winner in Monday’s Local Government Election.

There has been some unrest caused by what is being perceived as an undue delay to make the official declaration. The official recount began on February 27 and there has been discourse over the time it has taken to declare the official results, with both political parties claiming victory.

As at the end of February 28, the EOJ had confirmed the completion of the final count of a total of 178 out of 228 electoral divisions, with the final count for the remainder scheduled to be done today. With this much left to be confirmed, two days after the polls have closed, many persons have expressed dissatisfaction with the process, especially in light of both parties publicly claiming to have won the contest.

Both the PNP’s Peter Bunting and the JLP’s Horace Chang have expressed faith in the EOJ, saying that the system of elections and result verification is good in Jamaica, even though Bunting did admit that it “seems to be less efficient this time around”.

In defending the EOJ, Director of the EOJ Glasspole Brown highlighted that it is usual for the preliminary results to be given on the night and that under no other circumstance has the official recount been completed within 24 hours and that this timeline is well within the usual happenings in elections. Brown did not give any indication as to official winner and that with a close election, as results are always subject to change.

Based on the last official count, 75 divisions have been won by the JLP, while 74 have been won by the Opposition PNP, with the remaining 141 divisions left to be officially confirmed. The current breakdown by parish, based on the divisions that have been completed at Wednesday’s count, now stands as follows:

• Portland- 4 JLP; 2 PNP
• St. Mary- 4 JLP; 5 PNP
• St. Ann- 8 JLP; 5 PNP
• St Thomas- 5 JLP; 1 PNP
• St James – 7 JLP; 0 PNP
• Westmoreland- 1 JLP; 3 PNP
• Trelawny- 4 JLP; 3 PNP
• Hanover- 0 JLP; 6 PNP
• St Elizabeth- 4 JLP; 2 PNP
• Manchester- 3 JLP; 7 PNP
• Clarendon- 8 JLP; 3 PNP
• St Catherine- 2 JLP; 7 PNP
• St Andrew- 5 JLP; 7 PNP

The returning officers will continue the count today, February 29.