Electoral Commission of Jamaica

REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES

The Political Party Registration Act, 2014 mandates the registration of political parties in Jamaica and the monitoring of their finances. Prior to the passage of the legislation, there was no requirement for parties in Jamaica to be registered, or for their financial arrangements to be regulated.

With the enactment of the legislation, political parties intending to contest the polls in elections and referenda must be registered with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica. Additionally, political parties that meet the criteria for state funding must have their finances monitored and regulated by the Commission and are mandated by law to make statutory reports of their financial standing at the end of each financial year.

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF POLITICAL PARTIES

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) is responsible for the administration of the legislative requirements relating to political party registration and campaign financing. Therefore, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has been established to effectively manage the registration and monitor the financing of political parties. The role will also include monitoring of the obligations for financial reporting and declarations of the sources and uses of funds by political parties under the Election Campaign Financing Act, 2016.

HOW TO REGISTER A POLITICAL PARTY

• Guidelines for Registration
• The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2014 No.21
• Political Party Registration Regulations, 2017
• Application and Accompanying Forms
  • Form 1 – Application  Form
  • Form 2 – Voluntary Declaration
    • Attachment A – Form 2
    • Attachment B – Form 2
    • Attachment C – Form 2
  • Form 3 – Political Code of Conduct
• Checklist for Registration (Annexure 1)
• The Process of Registration
• Application for Registration Form
• Certificate of Recognised Offices (Attachment A) Form
• Declaration of Electors (Attachment B) Form
• Confirmation of Auditor (Attachment C) Form
• Voluntary Declaration of President and Authorized Representative Form
• Political Code of Conduct Form
• Application for Voluntary Deregistration Form
• Declaration of Continued Existence Form
• Application for Change of Name or Symbol Form
• Notice of Change of Location Form
• Notice of Change of Postal Address Form
• Return of Annual Accounts of the Party Form
• SECOND SCHEDULE Fees