‘No room for irregularities’

Several foolproof methods introduced:

Disna MUDALIGE

The Elections Secretariat has made arrangements to ensure there is no room for irregularities at the September 8 Provincial Council elections, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said.

Mahinda Deshapriya

Addressing a press conference at the Elections Secretariat yesterday, the Commissioner said new mechanisms have been introduced to clear uncertainties among voters and candidates over possible irregularities in the election procedure, specially at postal voting, polling booths and counting centres.

Commenting on the postal vote, Deshapriya said 100,818 voters are eligible to use postal votes this time, adding that the majority of them, amounting to 35,000, belong to the Anuradhapura district.

He said postal votes should not be considered less important since they can have a greater impact on the final result.

Deshapriya said the Secretariat will closely monitor the entire postal voting procedure.

He said all postal votes will be considered confidential, adding there is no room for others to know how a particular individual voted once the ballot paper is marked and posted.

The Commissioner said forcing a postal voter to show his ballot paper, attempting to see it or voluntarily showing the ballot papers are punishable offences.

He said more than three secret strategies unique to each postal vote have been introduced to the postal vote envelope this time, including a random number and two special seals to ensure the voting process was foolproof.

Deshapriya asked candidates to pay special attention to educate the voters on how to mark a valid vote during their canvassing.