The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), which has now taken on the functions of the political ombudsman, has set up an online portal to report violations of the political code of conduct.

In a media release, the ECJ announced that “reports of violations under the Political Ombudsman (Interim) Act can now be submitted to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ)”.

This is in addition to a dedicated telephone line at (876) 754-5845 and email [email protected] for the reporting of such violations.

Further, members of the public may now report breaches of the act through an electronic complaint form on the ECJ’s website at www.ecj.com.jm. 

“This digital platform offers a convenient avenue to submit complaints online, along with the capability to upload images of incidents, providing visual evidence to support their claims and facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of reported issues. The new portal introduces an advanced case management system, designed to ensure swift and precise processing of registered cases. The ECJ plans to release a mobile application, enabling citizens to submit video recordings of incidents directly from their smartphones,” the ECJ said.

ECJ Chairman Earl Jarrett underscored the elections oversight authority’s commitment to utilising technology to enhance accessibility and user-experience.

“We proudly announce the launch of the Political Ombudsman Online Complaints Portal. We are committed to leveraging technology to streamline the complaint resolution process, fostering greater transparency and accountability within the electoral system,” he said.

Under the act, the Political Ombudsman shall investigate any action taken by a political party, its members or supporters, where they are of the opinion that such action constitutes or is likely to constitute a breach of any agreement, code or arrangement for the time being in force between or among, political parties in Jamaica or is likely to prejudice good relations between the supporters of various political parties.

Complaints can made by any person or body of persons who claims to be affected by such actions. Reports should include details of the alleged infraction, including the location, date and nature of the violation, as well as particulars of any persons so impacted and any actual or potential harm in relation to the incident.

The ECJ is encouraging the public to utilise the available avenues to share any grievances and concerns in relation to improper conduct by political actors. The ECJ assured that it will continue to uphold the principles of democracy and promote equitable treatment of all stakeholders in the political arena.