Tufton fumes over result as PNP’s Wilson tops recount
IN THE aftermath of a closely contested local government election, a fiery debate has erupted regarding the need for reform in the country’s voting system.
The magisterial recount in the keenly contested Ginger Ridge division of St Catherine West Central ended yesterday after petitions made by the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) lawyers to have some votes where ticks were use as markings as opposed to an X admitted into the recount were denied by senior Parish Judge Yvette Wentworth-Miller.
The People’s National Party’s (PNP) incumbent Ralston Wilson prevailed against his JLP counterpart, Jeremiah Edwards, receiving 1,118 votes to Edwards 1,111 – a difference of seven votes.
Wilson was also involved in a magisterial recount in the 2016 local government elections, winning by 18 votes.
Dr Christopher Tufton, the member of parliament for the constituency, expressed a lack of confidence in the electoral process and announced on Thursday that he will be filing an election petition.
“The issue for us as it relates to the Ginger Ridge division is we do not have confidence in the outcome, these numbers and this particular process, we remain very sceptical about these results,” declared Tufton.
He continued: “We are not confident that the will of the people through the majority vote, one man one vote, has been expressed, and as is our right we intend to take it to the next step which is an election petition.”
REJECTED BALLOTS
Tufton said the rejected ballots, which is governed by a process, include ballots where the will of the voter and intent of the voter was clearly expressed, but were rejected in a number of cases on the interpretation as to what the markings on a particular ballot should be.
“For us the issue not only concerns around intent, which is fundamental, but also the inconsistency that has been applied where in some instances the ticks are recognised and in our instance they have been rejected, and would augur in Edwards’ favour,” Tufton noted.
According to him, there needs to be a revision of the law around voter intent to standardise the issue of intent.
It should be noted that the standard form of markings on an election ballot in Jamaica is an X.
Tufton highlighted other discrepancies in the voting process such as missing keys for ballot boxes, double ticks on ballots that were not there in the preliminary count, unsealed envelopes containing ballots and absence of presiding officer signatures that he claims rendered the system flawed.
But while Tufton is calling for a review of the process, King’s Counsel KD Knight, a prominent figure in the legal and political spheres, staunchly defended the current system, and dismissed calls for change.
Speaking to reporters following a recount in the Above Rocks division of the St Catherine North Central constituency on Tuesday, Knight asserted, “The time spent is to ensure that the result is the true reflection of the will of the people.”
He rebuffed suggestions for introducing electronic voting machines, deeming it a matter for the Government to decide.
Knight was unwavering, as he expressed satisfaction with the present system.
“We are satisfied with the system as it is now, ”he emphasised, noting its ability to accurately capture voter sentiment.
Winning candidate Ralston Wilson, who was selected last Saturday by the PNP caucus of councillors to continue his role as deputy mayor, was not able to be sworn in on Thursday because of the delay in the recount due to the issue of the rejected ballots.
Responding to Tufton’s concern he said the JLP is now fuming over things which are not factual.
“I want Mr Tufton to have respect for the people who worked in the electoral office, they have done their job professionally and I don’t know what he is talking
about.”