The killing spree near the town of Rock Hall in hills northwest of the capital was a reprisal for a feud started months ago and was not politically motivated, Jamaican police said, although one victim was a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) poll observer who was killed at a school next to a voting station.

More than 11,000 members of the security forces were deployed at nearly 7,300 polling stations across this Caribbean island in a peacekeeping operation police officials called unprecedented in Jamaica.

Residents of the capital put their own security measures in place, barricading dozens of streets in Kingston's slums with rusted cars, old refrigerators and trees to prevent drive-by shootings.

About 1.3 million of Jamaica's 2.7 million people were registered to vote in what was expected to be a close battle between Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's ruling People's National Party (PNP) and the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), headed by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga.

A poll published late Tuesday in the Observer newspaper gave the ruling PNP a 9-point lead over the JLP.

The PNP is hoping for an unprecedented fourth straight win. Patterson, who replaced Michael Manley in 1992, is seeking a record third consecutive term.

The winner faces daunting problems, including a sluggish economy and tourism industry, an unemployment rate of about 16 percent and a burdensome national debt of $4.1 billion.

Rain early in the day from a tropical weather system dampened expectations for a big showing at the polls. The Electoral Office of Jamaica called early turnout moderate.

``The shootings in Rock Hall did hold up polling in that area because of the shock, but polling stations are open there now,'' elections office spokesman Neville Graham said.

Former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Jimmy Carter, said voting appeared to be orderly. ``I think it's a very good reflection on democracy in Jamaica,'' Carter, head of a 59-member international monitoring team, told reporters.

Jamaica is haunted by one of the world's highest murder rates and by past election violence. Although only a few people died in politics-related violence in 1993 and 1997 national elections, 840 were killed during the 1980 campaign.

Daily violence and rising crime in this former British colony, which gained independence in 1962, has become a worry for foreign governments. Jamaican gang violence plagues London and the island itself is a key way station for South American cocaine destined for U.S. and European markets.

Police say about 20 people have died in political violence in this year's campaign since late July. Rival gangs linked to parties have traded gunfire in Kingston's slums, party supporters have been stoned at rallies and shots have been fired at Seaga's and Patterson's motorcades in recent days.

In the hills around Rock Hall early yesterday, relatives wept in grief as police wearing armored vests and helmets surrounded two homes where six people were shot to death. Rain swept away a stream of blood as officials took away a body wrapped in a blood-stained sheet.

Police said the killings, which took place just before polls opened nationwide, were motivated by a feud that started in February. ``It has nothing to do with the election. It is just unfortunate that it happened on election day,'' said Supt. A.J. Forbes, a spokesman for the Jamaican police.

Political leaders appeared determined to avert election day bloodshed this year and to protect polling places, which in some past elections have been taken over by gunmen. While rallies and motorcades were banned on Tuesday, the nation's airwaves were filled with warnings to troublemakers.

``I would like to warn anyone who might be planning acts of violence to intimidate voters not to pursue this course,'' National Security Minister Peter Phillips said in an address broadcast repeatedly on national television.