[2][3] Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller announced the date of the general election on 31 January 2016.

[10] Preliminary results saw the opposition JLP gaining a total of twelve seats, taking a slender three-seat majority over the governing PNP in the House of Representatives.

[12] JLP leader Andrew Holness became Prime Minister-designate, regaining the position he lost to Simpson-Miller after the previous election in 2011.

The JLP planned to contest the St. Mary South East recount that saw its margin narrow.

A by-election in St. Mary South-East was held on 30 October 2017 following the death of PNP incumbent Winston Green.

The seat was won by Norman Dunn of the JLP,[17] giving them a three-seat majority in parliament.