Jamaica Diaspora Council Elections Raise Concerns Over Low Voter Registration

2026-02-09 - 12:57

Voting for new members of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) is currently underway among Jamaicans living in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. However, several diaspora leaders have expressed disappointment over what they describe as low voter registration levels. A total of 44 candidates across the United States and Canada are contesting seven Global Jamaica Diaspora Council seats and seven Youth Council positions. Voting began on January 28 and will conclude on February 20. A review of available figures shows that 1,767 Jamaicans across the three regions registered to vote in the elections. Regional Breakdown of Registered Voters United States Northeast: 504 registrants Southern Region: 574 registrants West/Midwest: 134 registrants Canada: 469 registrants United Kingdom: 92 registrants UK South: 27 UK North: 63 Michelle Tulloch-Neil, the current representative for the U.S. Northeast Region, said she had hoped for significantly higher participation and expressed disappointment with the turnout. She explained that many Jamaicans she encouraged to register were hesitant, citing concerns about data security and privacy. “They said they did not trust the system and were reluctant to provide their personal data as required to register to vote. They did not feel that their data would be kept safe,” Tulloch-Neil said. She added that some individuals asked whether they could submit their identification documents directly to the Jamaican Consulate in New York rather than uploading them online. Tulloch-Neil believes these concerns must be addressed and noted that she has both spoken with and written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the issue. “People were required to provide sensitive information, including photo identification, and they did not feel secure providing that information,” she said. Dr. Z. Roy Davidson, a candidate in the U.S. West/Midwest Region, said he personally spoke with approximately 1,000 people to encourage registration but encountered strong resistance due to similar data privacy concerns. Two individuals who spoke with Carib News about the registration process—one who completed registration and another who began but did not finish—also expressed unease about the safety of their personal information. The individual who completed registration later requested that his data be removed from the website. “This is a .com site, and I don’t know who is managing it or how well my data will be safeguarded,” he told The Gleaner. The second individual said he stopped the registration process because he was uncomfortable providing the level of personal information requested. According to information published on the electoral website, all personal data is deleted and removed 30 days after the close of the electoral process. However, some diaspora leaders believe that concerns over data privacy are not the only factors contributing to low registration numbers. They argue that there is a broader issue of limited interest and insufficient outreach, with inadequate efforts made to promote the elections within diaspora communities. Former U.S. Northeast Region Council Member, Dr. Karren Dunkley, said that low voter registration resulted from a combination of structural, informational, and contextual challenges. “Diaspora engagement varies significantly by region, and many Jamaicans abroad are not consistently connected to formal networks that promote or facilitate electoral participation,” she said. Dr. Dunkley added that the registration process—requiring the submission of personal information and identification within a limited timeframe—posed challenges for individuals with demanding schedules, limited awareness, or difficulty navigating online platforms. “In the current global political climate—marked by heightened concerns about data privacy, surveillance, and misuse of personal information—many people were understandably hesitant to share identification documents online. This caution, combined with uneven outreach and the relatively new nature of the GJDC electoral process, contributed to lower registration rates,” she explained. Dr. Allan Cunningham, a former Diaspora Council member for the U.S. Southern Region, offered a more critical view, stating that low voter turnout reflects a general lack of interest among Jamaicans in the diaspora. “Not enough effort is made to build interest in the electoral process. The system is flawed, and something has to be done to build trust,” Cunningham said.