On March 1, 2019, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the by-election for the Portland Eastern parliamentary seat would be contested on March 25 with nomination day scheduled for March 8.[2] However, due to the Ash Wednesday public holiday falling that year on March 6, it did not allow for the five clear days between the announcement of the by-election and Nomination day as stipulated under the Representation of the People's Act.[3][4] On March 4, 2019, the Prime Minister announced that Nomination day would be on March 15, 2019 with the election date set for April 4, 2019.[5]