TRANSFERS
A ‘transfer of registration’ gives consideration for persons who have migrated internally (within country) and desire to vote in the constituency/polling division where they now live.
Transfer of Voter Registration
Transfer of voter registration refers to the moving of an elector’s registration from one polling division to another, whether within the same constituency or to another constituency.
Individuals who have changed their address since registering to vote are required to have their registration transferred to the new polling division in which they now reside. When this process is complete, the elector’s new home address will be recorded on the voters’ list. The elector’s name is never removed from the list.
The transfer process is simple. It requires that the elector visits the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) constituency office where they currently live and apply for a transfer of registration.
Timeline for transfers
After applying for the transfer, there is a three (3) month waiting period before processing takes place. A team from the Electoral Office, accompanied by scrutineers representing the political parties, then visits the elector’s residence to verify the new address.
After successful processing, the elector’s name will then be published on the voters’ list in the new polling division.
There is a cut-off period for applying for a transfer of registration. It is as follows:
- June 30 for the list to be published on November 30 of the same year; and
- December 31 for the list to be published on May 31 of the following year.
VOTER ID CARD SERVICES
The Electoral Office of Jamaica offers to electors services related to their voter ID card in the event changes become necessary. These are revisions, replacements and letters of identity – otherwise known as ‘print-outs.’
What are Revisions?
A revision refers to a change that is made to an elector’s demographic information i.e. name, date of birth, photograph or signature. An elector’s name must appear on the voters’ list before he/she is able to request a revision or replacement of their Elector Registration Identification Card (voter ID card).
The Electoral Office makes two types of revision of electors’ data, upon the request of the elector. They are: minor revisions and major revisions.
- A major revision speaks to a change that is made to demographic information that alters the elector’s identity – giving him or her a ‘new identity’.
- A minor revision on the other hand is a change that is made to correct a simple mistake or add information to enable the accurate identification of an elector.
Minor Revisions
Name Change due to Marriage
An elector may request to have his/her married name added to their voter ID. This request attracts a cost and requires the elector to carry the following documents;
- Birth Certificate (original and photocopy)
- Marriage Certificate (original and photocopy)
- Nationality Certificate for Unregistered (Birth) Jamaicans
- Completed and Signed Declaration of Identity Form
Your photograph, fingerprint and signature will be taken to complete the revision process of adding a married name.
Name Change due to Incorrect Spelling
To revise an elector’s name due to an incorrect spelling, the electors name must be published on the voters’ list. For the correction to be considered minor the modification should not change the pronunciation of the name.
Electors must carry;
- Birth Certificate (original and photocopy)
- Completed and Signed Declaration of Identity Form
- Nationality Certificate for Unregistered (Birth) Jamaicans
- Elector Registration Identification Card
Your photograph, fingerprint and signature will be taken to complete the revision process of changing your name due to an incorrect spelling.
Change of Signature
An elector’s name must be published on the voters’ list to request a change of signature. The request to change the signature must be made at the EOJ constituency office where the elector is registered.
Electors must carry;
- Elector Registration Identification Card (Voter ID card)
Your photograph will be taken to complete the revision process of changing the signature that appears on your voter ID card.
Change of Photograph
An elector may request a change of photograph for various reasons. If the photo change is requested because of an incorrect photo on the elector’s voter ID card the change will not attract a fee.
Electors must carry;
- Elector Registration Identification Card (Voter ID card)
Your photograph, fingerprint and signature will be taken to complete the revision process of changing your name due to an incorrect spelling.
Major Revisions
Electors who request major revisions to receive a new voter ID card are encouraged to remember the cut-off periods are March 31 and September 30.
Name change due to Incorrect Spelling
Electors who request a revision because of an incorrect spelling of any of the names present on the voter ID card will need to carry the following documents;
- New birth certificate (original and photocopy)
- Nationality Certificate for Unregistered (Birth) Jamaicans
- Completed and Signed Declaration of Identity Form
Name Change due to Deed Poll
Electors who request a revision because of a deed poll will need to carry the following documents;
- New birth Certificate (original and photocopy)
- Deed Poll (Front and Back Pages)
- Nationality Certificate for Unregistered (Birth) Jamaicans
- Completed and Signed Declaration of Identity Form
Name Change Due to Divorce
Electors who request a revision because of a divorce will need to carry the following documents;
- New Birth Certificate (original and photocopy)
- Decree Absolute (original and photocopy)
- Nationality Certificate for Unregistered (Birth) Jamaicans
- Complete and Signed Declaration of Identity Form
Name Change due to a missing name
Electors may make a request to change a name on their voter ID card, because they initially used an alias rather than their Christian name or their middle name is not reflected on the card.
For electors who request a name change for reasons such as these, they must submit the original and a photocopy of the following documents;
- New Birth Certificate (original and photocopy)
- Nationality Certificate for Unregistered (Birth) Jamaicans
- Completed and Signed Declaration of Identity Form
Change of Date of Birth
Electors may make a request to have their date of birth changed in the case a number is incorrect with the day, month or year. Electors who make this request will need to carry the following documents;
- New Birth Certificate (original and photocopy)
- Nationality Certificate for Unregistered (Birth) Jamaicans
- Completed and Signed Declaration of Identity Form
What is a Replacement Card?
A replacement card is a newly issued Voter ID card; a replica of your previous ID card.
An elector may request a replacement card for the following reasons;
- The voter ID card has been lost
- The voter ID card has been stolen
- The voter ID card has been damaged
Voter ID Card replacement requests are processed within 2 weeks and attract a cost of $2,200. Electors must make replacement card requests at the EOJ constituency office they are registered.
Request for Letters of Identity
An elector may request a Letter of Identity if their elector registration identification card has been lost, stolen or damaged. A Letter of Identity is a document electors may use temporarily to conduct urgent business in the absence of their physical voter ID card. To receive a Letter of Identity an elector must:
- Request a replacement card
- Pay the processing fees
Fee Schedule
As of May 2022, all fees for revisions and replacements cards were reinstated. Electors will therefore be required to pay the increased fees for these services at select LASCO locations across the island.
| SERVICE | FEE |
| No Change Replacement | $2,200 |
| Revision Replacement
(Name Change, Photo Change, Name Correction, DOB correction, Signature Change)
|
$3,000 |
| Letter of Identity | $500 |