2019 Portland Eastern by-election

A by-election to the House of Representatives was held for the Portland Eastern constituency on April 4, 2019. The seat was declared vacant due to the murder of member of Parliament Dr. Lynvale Bloomfield on February 2, 2019.[1] The election was won by Ann-Marie Vaz of the Jamaica Labour Party.

Background

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On March 1, 2019, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the by-election for the Portland Eastern parliamentary seat would be contested on March 25 with nomination day scheduled for March 8.[2] However, due to the Ash Wednesday public holiday falling that year on March 6, it did not allow for the five clear days between the announcement of the by-election and Nomination day as stipulated under the Representation of the People's Act.[3][4] On March 4, 2019, the Prime Minister announced that Nomination day would be on March 15, 2019 with the election date set for April 4, 2019.[5]

Dates

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Date Event
February 2, 2019 Member of Parliament Lvnvale Bloomfield dies under tragic circumstances.
March 5, 2019 Writ of Election issued by Governor-General and announced by Prime Minister[5]
March 15, 2019 Nomination day
April 14, 2019 Polling day

Result

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2019 Portland Eastern by-election [6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
JLP Ann-Marie Vaz 9,989 50.6
PNP Damion Crawford 9,670 49.0
Rejected ballots 75 0.4
Turnout 19,734 18.7
Registered electors 36,315
JLP gain from PNP
Voting results
Jamaica Labour Party
50.62%
People's National Party
49.00%
Rejected ballots
0.38%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Police investigate fatal stabbing of Jamaican legislator". Associated Press. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  2. ^ "PM announces by-election date for Portland East". Loop Jamaica. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Representation of the People Act 1979". Ministry of Justice (Jamaica). Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Political Database of the Americas". Georgetown University. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b "New date for Portland Eastern poll". Jamaica Observer. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Portland Eastern By-election 2019". Electoral Commission of Jamaica. Retrieved 4 September 2020.