St Catherine South Eastern
Mother of disabled voter cries foul
Published:Thursday | September 4, 2025 | 3:29 AM
A mother, whose disabled son faced challenges before Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) officials allowed him to vote in St Catherine South Eastern, is urging election personnel to review their procedures in relation to the disabled community.
Grace Nelson says her son, who has cerebral palsy, was unable to mark an X on the ballot sheet and as such, needed her assistance to exercise his franchise.
She told The Gleaner that EOJ officials insisted that they needed to have a conversation with the young man before he would be allowed to vote. She was then told by an EOJ staff member that she had to go outside.
Nelson reportedly told the presiding officer that her son was not able to communicate with them in a manner they could understand.
The frustrated mother was eventually allowed to take an oath and go through the process of assisting her son to vote.
“I should not have to go through that to insist that this young man is unable to go on his own, hence why I am here with him. I told her (presiding officer) I am his stepmother and I am his legal guardian. What more did she need? Why did she have to ask me to excuse myself from somebody who she can’t understand if he says something to her?” she questioned.
Constitutional expert Dr Lloyd Barnett told The Gleaner that it would be illegal to prevent the disabled person from voting, having the ready assistance of his mother.
The Gleaner reached out to Director of Elections Glasspole Brown for a comment on the issue, but he did not return the call, apparently owing to his involvement in releasing the election results.
The Gleaner also reached out to at least two leaders of the disabled community for a comment, but their phones rang without answer.