Presiding Officer (P.O)
Question 1:
Who is responsible for receiving materials from the Returning Officer (RO) and organizing the polling station layout?
Answer:
The Presiding Officer (PO) is responsible for receiving materials from the Returning Officer and organizing the polling station layout.
Question 1:
What is the Poll Clerk's responsibility in checking the elector’s name on Election Day?
Answer:
The Poll Clerk (PC) must check the elector’s name on the Official Voters’ List and place a tick next to the name once confirmed.
Question 1:
What is the responsibility of the Indoor Agent inside the polling station?
Answer:
The Indoor Agent represents the candidate inside the polling station, where they check the elector’s identity, ensure the voter’s information is ticked off the Official Voters' List, and observe the voting process on behalf of their candidate.
Question 1:
What is the role of the Polling Station Security Assistant (PSSA)?
Answer:
The Polling Station Security Assistant (PSSA) is responsible for maintaining law and order at the polling station, ensuring the orderly flow of electors, and advising them to put away recording devices and report to the JCF, Supervisor, P.O or Military as applicable to each category of persons.
Question 1:
What is the first step of the voting process when an elector arrives at the polling station?
Answer:
The Presiding Officer greets the elector, requests their name, and asks for their Voter ID card.
Question 2:
What is the role of the Presiding Officer in relation to the voting booth?
Answer:
The Presiding Officer ensures that the voting booth has necessary materials such as the pencil for marking the ballot, posts notices like Election Day Regulations, and ensures the booth is ready for electors.
Question 2:
How does the Poll Clerk record the elector’s information?
Answer:
The Poll Clerk records the elector’s name, occupation, and address in the Poll Book along with the serial number of the ballot issued and returned, the oath status of the elector, and any remarks on objections made on behalf of any candidates and condition of elector casting his/her ballot.
Question 2:
What must the Indoor Agent do before being allowed to remain inside the polling station?
Answer:
The Indoor Agent must present their Certificate of Appointment or assume the position by volunteering if appointed agent is not present and MUST swear/affirm an oath of secrecy, and accept the materials provided by the Presiding Officer, such as the Official Voters’ List both word picture and name along with their badge and wristband.
Question 2:
What must the PSSA do at the close of the poll?
Answer:
The PSSA must ensure that only electors in line at 5:00 PM are allowed to enter, maintain security during the preliminary count, and escort ballot boxes to the EDW Cluster Supervisor for escort with the JCF to the counting center.
Question 2:
What does the Presiding Officer do if the elector cannot present a Voter ID card?
Answer:
The Presiding Officer will inform the elector that they still can cast their ballot but they are expected to to answer specific questions from the black book based on their registration details and complete an Oath of Identity with finger print to establish their identity where they also swear or affirm.
Question 3:
What should the Presiding Officer do if an agent of the candidate arrives at the polling station without their Certificate of Appointment?
Answer:
The Presiding Officer should accept the agent but inform them that if the person with the Certificate of Appointment appears later, the agent without the certificate will need to relinquish their position.
Question 3:
What should the Poll Clerk do if the elector requires assistance in voting?
Answer:
The Poll Clerk should assist the Presiding Officer (PO) as needed, including supporting the process for electors who need help voting, as directed by the PO.
Question 3:
What is the role of the Outdoor Agent during the election?
Answer:
The Outdoor Agent represents the candidate outside the polling location/station and must remain no less than 20 yards away from the polling station.
Question 3:
What is the role of the Security Forces on Election Day?
Answer:
The Security Forces (JDF and JCF) are responsible for assigning and supervising PSSAs, providing security escort for election materials, and ensuring security at polling and counting stations.
Question 3:
What happens after the ballot paper is initialed by the Presiding Officer?
Answer:
Once initialed, the Presiding Officer instruct the elector on how to mark their X, refold and return the ballot to P.O and then direct the elector to the voting booth where a pencil is provided for marking their X for the candidate of their choice correctly and properly.
Question 4:
What is the procedure the Presiding Officer should follow at 6:45 am?
Answer:
If the Indoor Agents are not present by 6:45 am, the Presiding Officer should proceed to count the ballots with the Poll Clerk.
Question 4:
What does the Poll Clerk record after an elector casts their vote?
Answer:
The Poll Clerk records that the elector has voted in the Poll Book after the elector has immerse his/her finger in electoral ink and ballot has been deposited into the ballot box in the respective column of the pool book..
Question 4:
What must an Election Observer do while observing the election?
Answer:
An Election Observer must adhere to the guidelines set by the Electoral Commission and follow the directives of the Presiding Officer. They are permitted to remain inside the polling station, positioned where they can fully observe the voting process without interfering. However, they must not sit too close to the Presiding Officer's table. Observers may only monitor the process when an elector is casting their ballot independently but except when being assisted by the P.O in full view of the indoor agents.
Question 4:
How do the Security Forces ensure the safety of ballot boxes?
Answer:
The Security Forces provide an escort for the ballot boxes from polling stations to the counting centers and ensure security during the final count.
Question 4:
What does the Presiding Officer do once the elector returns the ballot paper?
Answer:
The Presiding Officer verifies the ballot paper’s serial number, announces it aloud, instructs P.C to records it in the Poll Book column for ballot serial number returned, reexam elector finger for substances that would prevent the staining of electoral ink, hold right index finger of elector to be immersed in ink the remove counterfoil and deposit ballot in ballot box.
Question 5:
What must the Presiding Officer do after ballots have been counted?
Answer:
The Presiding Officer must place the original signed Certificate of Ballot Paper into the E5 envelope for Unused Ballots and distribute copies of the signed Certificate of Ballot Paper Issued, to the agents and notify the EDW Cluster supervisor of the readiness of the station.
Question 5:
What must the Poll Clerk do after the ballot serial number is announced?
Answer:
The Poll Clerk must record the ballot serial number and all pertinent details of the elector in the Poll Book.
What is the maximum number of Election Observers allowed in the polling location at any one time and what organizations are allowed to to observe?
Answer:
A maximum of four Election Observers is allowed in the polling location at any one time. Organization are CAFFE, CARICOM etc., locally, regionally and internationally observation bodies.
Question 5:
What must the PSSA do if there is any disorder at the polling location?
Answer:
The PSSA must maintain law and order, direct electors to their polling stations, and ensure that there are no disturbances during the voting process.
Question 5:
How is the voting process concluded for an elector?
Answer:
The Presiding Officer ensures the elector’s index finger is stained with electoral ink, deposits the ballot into the box, and records that the elector has voted in the Poll Book before they leave the polling station.