Voter ID must for future polls

The Commissioner of Elections has requested all registered voters to be in possession of a valid identity document well in advance if they wished to exercise their franchise at the next round of elections without hassle.

He has also solicited the assistance of all parties and organisations, NGOs and Election Monitoring groups to educate voters regarding this requirement.

Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake in a communique said that as at the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Elections held on August 23, the necessity for the voter to prove his identity to obtain his ballot paper will be made compulsory at future elections.

The voter will be required to prove his identity by producing one of the following identity documents.

They are National Identity Card issued by the Department of Registration of Persons, valid driving licence, valid passport, valid postal Identity Card, valid railway season ticket with railway stations ticket identity card, pensioner’s identity card issued by the Director-General of Pensions or the Divisional Secretary, Elders’ Identity Card issued by the Director of Social Services or the Divisional Secretary, Bhikku Identity Card or an identity card issued under a Parliamentary Act with the holder’s photograph and with relevant section of the Act indicated therein.

Voters who do not possess any of the above identity documents or if the identity card is illegible or the photograph is defaced, such voter should obtain a temporary identity card.

For this, such person should apply to the Gram Niladhari along with two black and white or coloured copies of the photograph of the size 1 1/4” x 1”, the commissioner said voters in estates could apply to the Superintendent of the Estate. Application forms could be obtained from the Grama Niladhari/Estate Superintendent after October 15.

The applicants should place their signatures on the application form and the identity card form in the presence of the Grma Niladhari/Estate Superintendent. The identity card will be issued to the applicant by the Grama Niladhari/Estate Superintendent after obtaining the counter signature of the Deputy/Senior Assistant/Assistant Commissioner of Elections of the District. no fee will be charged from the applicant for the temporary identity card.

No other documents other than valid documents specified above will be accepted. Documents such as official identity cards issued by Ministries, Government Departments or Institutions, receipts issued by the Grama Niladharies for applications for national identity cards, temporary permits issued in place of Driving Licences, etc. will be accepted at polling stations.

Due to this measure at the previous elections, it was possible to prevent impersonations by submitting forged identity documents. It was also possible to manage queues of voters at polling stations without any hassle and thereby avoid disturbances at polling stations. Polling was peaceful. All who expected a free and fair election welcomed this measure, Dissanayake said.

The elections commissioner said, this announcement was being made in advance to encourage voters to obtain a valid identity document before the next round of elections.

All political parties and organisations, non-governmental organisations and Election Observer Groups are requested to educate the voters regarding this requirement.

Their co-operation and assistance will help to successfully achieve the objectives of this requirement, he said.