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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | December 1, 2006 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Jurisdiction | Government of Jamaica |
| Headquarters | Kingston |
| Agency executives |
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| Website | ecj |
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|---|
 Jamaicaportal |
The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) is the independent statutory agency of the Government of Jamaica responsible for organising, conducting and supervising elections, by-elections and referendums. [2]
The Electoral Commission (Interim) Act (2006) [3] defines the objective of the Electoral Commission as:
"to safeguard the democratic foundations of Jamaica by enabling eligible electors to elect, through free and fair elections, their representatives to govern Jamaica."
The functions of the Electoral Commission are defined by law and in summary are
In October 2006, the House of Representatives and the Senate passed the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act 2006, which established the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ). The Commission replaced the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) that had been established by the Representation of the People Act 1979 [4] [5]
The day-to-day operations of the ECJ are carried out through the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) which is a public government agency established in 1943 to administer the holding of Parliamentary and Local Government Elections.
The holding of Parliamentary and Local Government Elections and all activities pertinent to these elections are regulated by the Representation of People Act and the Local Governance Act.
The Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) was established in 1979, dissolved in 2006 and replaced by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ). Errol Miller was the last Chairman of the EAC, from December 2000 to December 2006, and the first Chairman of the ECJ from December 2006 to December 2012.
Membership of the Electoral Commission is governed by the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act (2006). [3] The commission has nine members appointed by the Governor-General, as follows:
Selected Commissioners and the Director of Elections are appointed for a period of seven years, while Nominated Commissioners serve for four years. [6] The Director of Elections and the Selected Commissioners are disqualified by law to vote in any General or Local Government Elections or referendums.
 | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2020) |
| Name | Role | Since | Term ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hon. Earl Jarrett | Chairman [8] | March 5, 2013 | February 28, 2027 |
| Hon. Karl Harrison | Selected Commissioner | March 1, 2014 | February 28, 2021 |
| Prof. Alvin G. Wint | Selected Commissioner | March 1, 2014 | February 28, 2021 |
| Hon. Zaila McCalla | Selected Commissioner [9] | January 1, 2020 | December 31, 2027 |
| GlassPole Brown | Director of Elections | April 16, 2018 | April 15, 2025 |
| Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson | Nominated Commissioner (JLP) | June 1, 2005 | May 31, 2021 |
| Wensworth Skeffery | Nominated Commissioner (PNP) | January 1, 2018 | December 31, 2022 |
| Dr. Aundre Franklin | Nominated Commissioner (JLP) | December 1, 2010 | November 30, 2022 |
| Julian J. Robinson | Nominated Commissioner (PNP) | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2021 |
| Name | Role | Since | Term ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hon. Dorothy Pine-McLarty | Selected Commissioner | December 18, 2000 | December 31, 2019 |
| Dr. Herbert Thompson | Selected Commissioner | 2000 | 2013 |
| Hon. Clarence Walker | Selected Commissioner | 2006 | 2014 |
| Prof. Hon. Errol Miller | Selected Commissioner | November 1, 2006 | December 31, 2012 |
| Hon. Danville Walker | Director of Elections | 1997 | 2008 |
| Orrete Fisher | Director of Elections | November 1, 2008 | March 2018 |
| Hon. Karl Samuda | Nominated Commissioner (JLP) | November 1, 2006 | 2010 |
| Dr. D. K. Duncan | Nominated Commissioner (PNP) | December 1, 2010 | December 31, 2014 |
| Donald Buchanan | Nominated Commissioner (PNP) | November 1, 2006 | 2010 |
| Paul Burke | Nominated Commissioner (PNP) | March 2015 | June 30, 2017 |
| Linton Walters | Nominated Commissioner (PNP) | 2002 | 2008 |
| Peter Bunting | Nominated Commissioner (PNP) | 2008 |
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