Jamahl Simmons has been elected as the Member of Parliament for Sandys South tonight.

The Progressive Labour Party’s candidate for Constituency 33 beat Georgia Marshall, who was standing for the One Bermuda Alliance, by 462 votes to 326.

There was a 59 per cent turn out, 794 of the 1,327 eligible voters in the constituency going to the polls, there were six spoiled ballots.

To loud cheers from his supporters, Mr Simmons announced “and I’m back”, shortly after stepping out of the polling station at Somers Isles Lodge.

“Today we hit the ground running and start working because the people deserve a working representative and they deserve a voice that will fight for our people,” he said.

Conceding defeat, Ms Marshall thanked the voters for their support in what she said had been a humbling experience.

“Let me thank the voters of Sandys South for their welcoming reception on the doorstep,” she said in a prepared statement. “It has been one of the most humbling and enriching experiences of my life. It has been an honour and a privilege to run as the OBA candidate in Sandys South.

“Despite losing, I will continue to address local and national issues so that we can continue making a positive difference in the lives of all Bermudians – supporting job growth and working to ensure safe communities.”

Ms Marshall thanked her by-election team and the OBA members for their support, encouragement and assistance and vowed to continue supporting the Government in their efforts. She added: “Let me especially thank my husband, Tim and all of our family and friends who have been so supportive and encouraging.”

Earlier a large crowd had gathered at the Somers Isles Lodge polling station shortly after the polls closed at 8pm, but were kept waiting for almost two hours before the result was announced.

Representatives of both parties mixed with voters, anxiously awaiting the outcome, as they had been for much of the day.

Both Mr Simmons and Mrs Marshall were out in force with their supporters throughout the day, and called the show of early voters “positive”.

Some 240 people had voted by 11am and Ms Marshall, present with husband Tim Marshall and her son Zach, told The Royal Gazette: “The vibe is definitely upbeat; there have been a lot of people coming early before work, so it’s slowed down a little bit.

“It’s hard to tell. People like to hold their cards close to their chest and Bermudians are extremely polite. The candidate who worked the hardest and touched people on a personal basis will get their just deserts.”

Craig Cannonier, the former Premier who is in attendance to support Ms Marshall, predicted that tonight would be “a flurry of activity”.

This morning, Mr Simmons said there had been “a very steady flow”. He added: “It looks like the turnout will be positive.”

Greeting voters alongside his wife Sherri, Mr Simmons vowed to stay at the polling station until the eleventh hour. Marc Bean, the Leader of the Opposition, was also on hand to show his support.

The stakes are high: with 15 sitting PLP MPs to the OBA’s 19, an Opposition victory tonight would make the ruling party’s slim majority slimmer yet.

Sandys South has a long-standing reputation as a PLP stronghold, and in the 2012 election, it was won by Terry Lister with 516 votes over 397 votes for the OBA’s Tonetta Spring.

However, Mr Lister, who has openly clashed with Mr Bean, opted to go Independent, and in September he retired from politics.

Mr Cannonier, who said that he had canvassed the area, called Mr Lister’s victory by 119 votes “the closest it’s ever been in a traditional stronghold”.

He said: “It definitely throws a wild card in. You had so many people who were loyal to Terry Lister personally. With him now out, the question is, where would those votes go? It makes this particular by-election very interesting, and the margin ever closer — especially since, last night, Mr Lister pretty much endorsed Ms Marshall.”

Mr Cannonier was referring to remarks by Mr Lister on VSB News, in which the retired MP said that Bermuda needed “steady hands” and suggested that the OBA “are trying to govern the whole of the country”.

“The other party seems to be projecting a position of only having one group of people that they’re interested in,” Mr Lister added. “And that’s no good.”

Ms Marshall said she hoped that women, in particular, would come out and support “a strong woman candidate to represent their interests in the House”.

She said: “We need more women aware of women’s issues and who will fight for them.”

Mr Simmons, meanwhile, said he would fight for young people who felt excluded in Bermuda, adding: “It’s critical for the PLP to retain this seat, with the artificially inflated majority of the OBA, after the defection of Mr Lister and Randolph Horton, the Speaker of the House. The OBA haven’t been required to work with us. We have our say, but they have their way.

“There’s a great need for balance and collaboration. That’s what people want.”

Opposition supporter Glenn Woods said there had been voters lining up at 7.30am.

On the OBA side, supporter Rodney Smith said the atmosphere had been “great — everyone’s been very cordial with one another”.

He added: “We had a little resistance, with some of the PLP wearing their logo outside the polling station, but it’s nothing serious.”

It stood in contrast to an alleged “tirade” by Mr Bean at OBA supporter Toni Daniels during the November 6 advanced polls.

Both parties had tents with refreshments. Ms Daniels was present, along with Senator Jeff Baron, MP Jeff Sousa and Mr Cannonier. Premier Michael Dunkley had attended earlier.

As of 9am, PLP MPs Kim Wilson, Michael Scott and Wayne Furbert were out with the party leader supporting Mr Simmons.

Mr Bean said that he planned to remain there throughout the day. Asked how he felt the by-election would go, Mr Bean said: “I don’t take people for granted.”

One voter, emerging from the building, said: “You just walk in and walk out and hope for the best.”

His sentiment was echoed by a senior woman, who said: “It felt OK — so long as the results are good; that’s the important thing. It’s a good day.”