Member of Parliament for South West. St. Catherine, the JLP’s Everald Warmington, has called for several changes to the country’s electoral laws.
This includes easing the restrictions on how voters may cast their ballot.
He used a private members motion to propose amendments to the Representation of the People’s Act in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Chevon Campbell has that story.
Outside of the Constitution, the Representation of the People’s Act, ROPA, is the only document that speaks to provisions for the election of members of the House of Representatives and for the franchise for such elections.
It also regulates the registration of electors for the House of Representatives and the conduct of elections.
Speaking in the Lower House on Tuesday, Mr. Warmington called on ballot casting to be eased, allowing for any mark other than an x and to be done by any writing implement outside of a pencil.
He called for ballots not to be rejected by a presiding officer merely for having its counterfoil in place.
Mr. Warmington also called on the special right for teachers to actively be involved in political activities and stand for election to the House of Representatives to either be removed or extended to all public servants.
The South West St. Catherine MP invoked Section 23 of the standing orders, calling for the motions to be debated no later than 21 days from their tabling.
