Don't forget your ID, polls chief tells May 20 voters

COLOMBO: Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has instructed Presiding Officers at polling stations to strictly enforce the requirement to ascertain the identity of the voter before he is issued a ballot paper at the elections to 22 local authorities on May 20.

The Elections Chief has requested voters to produce the national identity card, passport, driving licence, postal identity card, railway season ticket identity card, pensioner's identity card issued by the Director of Pensions or the Divisional Secretary, Bhikku identity card issued by the Department of Buddhist Affairs or any other photo identity card issued by a Government Authority under any law, when they vote on May 20.

Any voter not in possession of any of these documents should obtain a special identity card issued by the Grama Niladhari or the Superintendent of the estate.

Such an identity card should be counter-signed by the Divisional Secretary of the area. Applicants for the special identity card should provide a 1 1/4" to 1" photograph of the applicant to the Grama Niladhari or the Superintendent of the estate. The card will be issued free of charge.

Any voter who fails to prove his identity by producing any of the abovementioned documents will not be able to cast his vote.