The People's National Party (PNP) is expected to announce today if the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) will be called in to run its September 20 presidential race.

That was one of the main items discussed when PNP officers met last night.

Measures to prevent the contest from becoming dirty and to punish persons who breach the party's code of conduct were also discussed by the executive during last night's meeting.

PNP officials say the matter of who should conduct the election was first mooted during an executive meeting on Monday night when the party sought to outline the procedures which would govern the September 20 contest between Party President Portia Simpson Miller and challenger, Vice-President Dr Peter Phillips.

Both sides want eoj

Party sources later told The Gleaner that both sides want the EOJ to conduct the elections to ensure that only certified delegates are allowed to vote.

According to the sources, the two camps trust the EOJ and want its approval on the process amid fears that persons not on the official delegates' list would attempt to cast votes for their candidates.

However, the sources noted that the party was in a serious financial bind and could struggle to find the money to pay the EOJ.

Yesterday, Director of Elections Orrett Fisher told The Gleaner that the EOJ has conducted elections for both major political parties in the past and would be prepared to do so again if its services were requested.

Fisher did not state how much the PNP would have to pay for the EOJ to conduct the election, but noted that the major cost would relate to staff from the electoral office who would serve as poll clerks and presiding officers.

More than 4,000 to vote

More than 4,000 PNP delegates are expected to be on the voters' list for the party's second leadership contest in two years.

The last time the party had a contest for the top job in February 2006, 3,790 delegates voted in the four-contender race.

But since then, several groups have been registered with many more persons added to the list of delegates.

In the meantime, PNP General Secretary Peter Bunting says both camps have agreed to abide by the code of conduct during the campaign.

According to Bunting, persons who breach the code could find themselves in trouble.

"If you establish a code of conduct, you must have sanctions if it is not observed," Bunting told journalists yesterday.