Letter of the Day | Will offering free KFC meal bring out more voters?
Published:Tuesday | September 9, 2025 | 12:07 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The discussions around ways to increase voter turnout given the recent general election is once again on the front burner. The higher the voter turnout the stronger Jamaica’s democracy will be from a practical standpoint.
At the risk of being ridiculed and having my suggestion rubbished I will nonetheless proceed to give it. Jamaicans love a free meal and especially one that is regarded by some as our ‘national dish’. Imagine that after casting the ballot, a KFC ‘Meal Deal’ or ‘Big Deal’ voucher (redeemable within a two-month period) were handed to the voter. Would this ‘finger lickin’ good’ incentive not be almost guaranteed bring out the non-voters who fall into the ‘I am dissatisfied with the two parties’, ‘I am too lazy to come out and vote’, and the ‘I am not willing to wait two hours in a line to vote’ categories?
Given Jamaicans’ great longstanding love and passion for KFC which was recently on full display – during KFC’s 50th anniversary celebrations – what better and more practical way to entice/incentivise citizens to not only register to vote but to come out and actually vote on election day than the aforementioned suggestion?
Over the past three election cycles one thing has proved certain that encouraging words alone won’t and don’t work. It’s therefore time to think ‘inside the box’ ...
PATRICK GALLIMORE