Diaspora elections under way amid low registration, data‑protection fears

Jamaicans across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have begun voting in elections for the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC), amid concerns from some leaders about what they describe as disappointingly low voter registration – and lingering unease about data security.

Voting, conducted online at connectmeja.com, closes on February 20. A total of 51 candidates are seeking election: 44 contesting seven GJDC seats across the United States and Canada, with others vying for seven Youth Council positions.

Yet only 1,767 Jamaicans across the three countries registered to vote – about 41 per cent fewer than the roughly 3,000 ballots cast in the 2023 elections, and vanishingly small when set against the two to three million Jamaicans in the diaspora.

Of those registered, 504 were in the US northeast, 574 in the US south, and 134 in the US west/midwest. Canada accounted for 469 registrants, while the United Kingdom recorded 92 – 27 in the south and 63 in the north.

Michelle Tulloch-Neil, the current representative for the US northeast, said the figures fell short of expectations. “We were hoping for better numbers,” she said.

She told The Gleaner that her efforts to boost participation had been met with resistance. “They said that 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,” she said.

Some prospective voters, she added, asked whether they could submit identification directly to the Jamaican Consulate in New York rather than uploading documents online. Tulloch-Neil said she had written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade urging action on data-protection concerns. “People were required to provide sensitive information as well as photo identification and they did not feel secure about providing such information,” she said.

Similar concerns surfaced in the US west/midwest, according to Dr Z. Roy Davidson, a candidate who said he spoke with roughly 1,000 people while campaigning. Many declined to register, he said, because they were uneasy about submitting what they viewed as sensitive information to a website they did not trust.

REVERSED REGISTRATION

Two prospective voters also told The Gleaner they had abandoned or reversed their registrations. “This is a .com site and I don’t know who is managing the site and how well my data will be safeguarded,” one registered voter said.

While a .com domain is typically used by commercial entities, a .gov domain –restricted to government agencies – is generally regarded as more secure and authoritative.

Others argue that data privacy is only part of the problem. Former northeast regional council member Dr Karren Dunkley said the low registration reflected “a combination of structural, informational, and contextual factors”. “Many Jamaicans abroad are not consistently connected to formal networks that promote or facilitate electoral participation,” she said.

She added that the registration process itself created barriers. “In the current global political climate – marked by heightened concerns about data privacy, surveillance, and the misuse of personal information – many persons were understandably hesitant to share identification documents or personal details online. This caution, combined with uneven outreach across diaspora communities and the relatively new nature of the GJDC electoral process, contributed to lower registration rates despite broad interest in diaspora representation and engagement.”

Dr Allan Cunningham, a former council member in the US south, was more blunt, attributing the numbers to apathy. “The system is flawed and something has to be done to build trust in the system,” he said, arguing that not enough had been done to stimulate interest.

According to the electoral website, personal data are deleted within 30 days of the end of the electoral process.

In a statement last week, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge, said the 2026 elections were being held with the ministry’s full support. He emphasised that Jamaica has long maintained a structured approach to diaspora engagement, supported by policy frameworks and a dedicated Diaspora Affairs Department.

“The GJDC and GJDYC are core organs accounted for in our National Diaspora Policy,” he said. “These formal mechanisms put in place by the Government reflect a commitment to harnessing the expertise, resources and valued contributions of the global Jamaica Diaspora … The Government will therefore maintain its commitment to a structured, transparent, credible and inclusive approach to Diaspora engagement.”

Up to yesterday, Terrelonge had not responded to questions sent by The Gleaner on Monday. Last week’s media release, however, sought to “address recent commentary seeking to undermine the voting process”.

“While diverse views are healthy for democratic governance, it is deeply concerning when attempts are made to disrupt or discredit a legitimate and transparent process through mischief, misinformation and propaganda,” he said. He urged eligible Jamaicans overseas to vote and remain active partners in shaping Jamaica’s future.

editorial@gleanerjm.com