2025 Jamaican general election
From Wikipedia
General elections are scheduled to be held in Jamaica on September 3, 2025.[1][2]Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the date of the election at a party meeting held on August 10, 2025 at Half-Way-Tree.[1] The incumbent government Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is seeking a third term in office against the opposition People’s National Party (PNP).[3] Jamaicans will head to the polls on September 3rd 2025 to vote for their respective Members of Parliament who would’ve been nominated on August 18th 2025.
Background
Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte said that Jamaica would transition to being a republic before the next general election.[4] In December 2024 a bill was tabled on transitioning to becoming a republic. The bill required review by joint committees, followed by a parliamentary vote and a referendum to approve the change.[5] It was announced in March 2025 that a referendum would not occur before the general election.[6]
Preselection contests were held in March 2025.[7]
Timeline
- 21 September 2023 – Speaker Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert resigns as MP for Trelawny Southern.[8]
- 26 February 2024 – local elections were held.
- 9 March 2025 – The Jamaica Patriotic Movement announced support for the People’s National Party.[9]
- 10 August 2025 – Prime Minister announces Nomination day to be August 18th and Elections to follow on September 3rd 2025.[10]
Electoral system
The 63 members of the House of Representatives are elected in single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting.[11] Voters must be 18 years and over and be a citizen of Jamaica or a Commonwealth citizen who is resident in Jamaica at the date of registration and has been a resident for at least twelve months prior to the date of registration.[12]
The leader of the party commanding a majority of support in the House of Representatives is called on by the Governor General to form a government as Prime Minister,[13] while the leader of the largest group or coalition not in government becomes the Leader of the Opposition.[14]
Members not seeking re-election
| Member | Constituency | Party | First elected | Date announced | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Hanna | Saint Ann South Eastern | People’s National Party | 2007 | 9 August 2022[15] | |
Candidates
The election will be decided in marginal seats.[16]
Opinion polls
| Date | Pollster | Sample size | JLP | PNP | Other[a] | Non-voting | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May – 7 June 2025 | Don Anderson[23] | 1,033 | 29.6 | 32.6 | 18.4 | 19.4 | 3.0 |
| 2 – 17 May 2025 | Bluedot[24] | 1,618 | 35 | 31 | 34[25] | – | 4.0 |
| 27 September – 3 October 2024 | RJR Gleaner Group/Don Anderson poll[26] | 1,012 | 43.5 | 56.5 | – | – | 13 |
| 6 – 19 September 2024 | Nationwide/Bluedot poll[27] | 1,246 | 53 | 47 | – | – | 6 |
| June 2024 | RJR Gleaner Group/Don Anderson poll[28] | – | 44.0 | 56 | – | – | 12 |
| 4 – 12 April 2024 | RJR Gleaner Group/Don Anderson poll[29] | 1,057 | 44.1 | 55.9 | – | – | 11.8 |
| 26 February 2024 | 2024 Jamaican local elections | – | 47.8 | 51.8 | 0.6 | – | 4 |
| 24 November – 7 December 2023 | RJR Gleaner Group/Don Anderson poll[30] | 1,015 | 22 | 25 | 18 | 35 | 3 |
| 17 – 26 February 2023 | RJR Gleaner Group/Don Anderson poll[31] | 1,002 | 27.9 | 28.1 | 19 | 25 | 0.2 |
| 13 September 2022 | RJR Gleaner Group/Don Anderson poll[32] | – | 31 | 18 | 17 | 34 | 13 |
| 22 September 2021 | RJR Gleaner Group/Don Anderson poll[33] | 1,003 | 26 | 15 | 26 | 31 | 11 |
| 3 September 2020 | 2020 general election | – | 57.1 | 42.8 | 0.1 | – | 14.3 |
SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Jamaican_general_election
