Important: Things you should pay attention to on polling day
Voting for the Presidential poll to appoint the 9th Executive President of Sri Lanka will take place tomorrow (21). As a citizen with the right to vote in an election, below are some facts you should be aware and careful of before entering the polling station.
Misconduct at Polling and Counting Centers
The Election Commission emphasized that the following misconduct at polling and counting centres is illegal.
- Using mobile phones
- Taking photographs
- Recording videos
- Possessing firearms
- Smoking, drinking alcohol or using any other intoxicants
- Entering the centres under the influence of alcohol or intoxicants
Avoid taking photos/filming polling-related activities, and refrain from uploading them on social media platforms
The Election Commission also states that photographing or filming polling stations, marking ballot papers, and sharing them on social media violates election laws. Accordingly, all social media account holders and administrators are advised to abstain from such activities.
Things that you should AVOID
On the day of the election (21), no person shall do any of the following acts within the polling station or within half a kilometre of the polling station. The Election Commission has stated in a press release that anyone who violates these rules and regulations shall be punished.
- Solicitation of votes
- Requesting the vote of a particular voter
- Persuading a voter not to vote for a specific candidate
- Inducing a voter not to vote in an election
- Demonstrate or distribute any pamphlet, leaflet, advertising papers, photographs, or drawing concerning the election. (no official pamphlet, leaflet, advertising paper, photograph, or drawing)
- Photographing or recording instances of voting and ballot papers and circulating them through social media.
Violating these rules and regulations is prohibited; thus, anyone found guilty of misconduct will be punished according to the Presidential Election laws.
Also Read : How can the second and third votes in the election be cast correctly?
People who are permitted to enter the polling station.
The Election Commission has issued a media release stating that authorized persons are permitted to enter a polling station. Accordingly, only the following mentioned persons are permitted to enter a Polling Station.
Electors registered at the polling station.
Polling staff of the polling station
Police officers deployed in election duties at the polling station
Contesting presidential candidates
Election agents of presidential candidates
Authorized agents of presidential candidates
Divisional agents of presidential candidates
Duly appointed Polling Agents for each candidate
Representatives of Local/Foreign Election Monitoring Organizations approved by the Election Commission
Officers authorized by the respective Returning Officers.