Any political party that meets the criteria can participate.
CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTION DEBATES ORGANIZED BY THE JAMAICA DEBATES COMMISSION
The Jamaica Debates Commission ( “ the Commission ” ) will invite political parties to participate in national debates pertaining to parliamentary general elections organized by the Commission, only if the following conditions are satisfied. The political party -
(a) must be a registered political party under section 52M of the Representation of the People Act; and
(b) must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
(i) at the last general elections had at least one (1) candidate who was returned as an elected member of the House of Representatives; or
(ii) at the last general elections, the total number of votes cast for candidates publicly described as candidates for that political party is 5% or more of the total of valid votes which were cast in the said elections; or
(iii) the political party has been shown by at least one (1) national poll of persons, included as electors on the official list of electors (voters list), which is to be used in the pending general election of members of the House of Representatives, to have the support of not less than 8% of the persons so polled. This poll must be conducted by an entity or person who is recognized by the Commission as having experience in the conduct of national polls and the said polls were not commissioned or conducted by a political party or an affiliate, member or agent of a political party. This poll must be conducted between the date that the abovementioned official list of electors (voters list) is published, and the date when the election is announced.
(a) must be a registered political party under section 52M of the Representation of the People Act; and
(b) must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
(i) at the last general elections had at least one (1) candidate who was returned as an elected member of the House of Representatives; or
(ii) at the last general elections, the total number of votes cast for candidates publicly described as candidates for that political party is 5% or more of the total of valid votes which were cast in the said elections; or
(iii) the political party has been shown by at least one (1) national poll of persons, included as electors on the official list of electors (voters list), which is to be used in the pending general election of members of the House of Representatives, to have the support of not less than 8% of the persons so polled. This poll must be conducted by an entity or person who is recognized by the Commission as having experience in the conduct of national polls and the said polls were not commissioned or conducted by a political party or an affiliate, member or agent of a political party. This poll must be conducted between the date that the abovementioned official list of electors (voters list) is published, and the date when the election is announced.