Don’t use your pen

7 January 2015 11:38 am - 69 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has instructed that marking of ballot papers should be done only with the pens provided at the polling centres.

“There were media reports stating that people could take pens of their own. This is wrong. We will be providing either orange or brown colour pens to mark the ballot papers,” he said.

The Elections Commissioner said ballot papers which were marked otherwise would be rejected.

“The ballot papers which are marked in other colours will be rejected at the counting centres. People should use the pens provided without any hesitation,” he said. (Chathushika Wijeyesinghe)

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Comments - 69

Calistus Jayatilleke Thursday, 08 January 2015 12:02 PM

There were no such coloured pens provided at the center where I voted and neither had anyone advised the voters in advance about such a requirement earlier in advance. Is this another ruse.

sumith9999 Thursday, 08 January 2015 01:12 PM

As another person told me to try, I washed off the finger marking ink easily with water and sunlight soap.Pens provided were blue ink ball point pens, at our centre.

Mr. Kurera Thursday, 08 January 2015 01:08 PM

Pencils Pencils everywhere..

Achcharu Thursday, 08 January 2015 12:58 PM

Kelaniya Polling Div - Pencils Provided as alwayz.

Kiruthika Thursday, 08 January 2015 12:38 PM

They gave pencils from 7am to 9.45am at holy family convent bambalapitiya polling station.

crp Thursday, 08 January 2015 12:22 PM

We also voted early morning v were provided with ordinary blue ball point pen. Please raise this to the Election Commissioner so that our votes will not be void.

sms Thursday, 08 January 2015 12:19 PM

we were given a purple colour atlas pen!

rani Thursday, 08 January 2015 12:19 PM

the place i vote also had a black colour pen. Election Commissioner make note your instructions were not carried out. there was no orange or brown pen provided at the polling booth as you have published.

Beatrice Thursday, 08 January 2015 12:09 PM

There was only a pencil to mark the vote at a Colombo 4 polling station

JKJ Thursday, 08 January 2015 01:24 PM

This is to mislead frauds, now whoever do frauds will use orange and brown color pens and can be identified easily.

DM Thursday, 08 January 2015 12:00 PM

I voted at the polling booth Thurstan College, only a regular black pen was provided. No orange or brown. What does this mean?

dil Thursday, 08 January 2015 11:55 AM

Report it. Some other places has got brown pens. Ring the commissioner

was Thursday, 08 January 2015 11:47 AM

My polling station was in Wattala St. annes Balika Vidyalaya I cast my vote around 10.00 a.m. am and there was a pen attached to a string and it was a black bollpoint pen please look in to this matter

AW Thursday, 08 January 2015 11:38 AM

Strongly suggest that you immediately lodge a complaint and spread the word

Yoga Thursday, 08 January 2015 11:19 AM

There is no such pen in place, there was a black ballpoint pen which attached to the booth. this is at Mattakkuliya. Please clarify this issue

kithsiri Thursday, 08 January 2015 11:06 AM

We were given with a black pen at Nedimala, DSehiwala ???

Nishanthi Thursday, 08 January 2015 11:05 AM

At waragoda Kelaniaya - St Pauls BMWwe used normal ball point pens - I think black in colour

upul Thursday, 08 January 2015 10:46 AM

At our booth at Pannipitiya it was a Blue Ballpoint Pen

ukkuwa Thursday, 08 January 2015 02:08 PM

Same here. I voted at the Rajagiriya Sudarmarama temple.

Lawry Thursday, 08 January 2015 04:44 PM

I telephoned the elections secretariat. I was told "gatluwak nahe"

MR Thursday, 08 January 2015 04:03 PM

In my area, v were given CHARCOAL sticks. they said the govt is cutting costs to give more sahanaaadhara with these savings in future.

lawry Thursday, 08 January 2015 03:49 PM

At Atulathmudali school centre Mount Lavinia the pen ink was brownish purple. I inguired from the office as to why instructions not to use ones own pen was not displayed. He politely said "no need to confuse voters too much. It is not fraud they are committing" what ever that meant.

safna Thursday, 08 January 2015 03:03 PM

We were given a pencil @ kettarama polling center

Truth Thursday, 08 January 2015 02:58 PM

It was a black colour ballpoint pen Hope this is okay!

Thulasi Weerasekara Thursday, 08 January 2015 02:20 PM

Our polling centre provided us ball point pens of blue ink in the poll booth! What does this mean??

manj Thursday, 08 January 2015 02:19 PM

call this number on 4062181. they said use what is given at the polling station that it wont be an issue!!

Manj Thursday, 08 January 2015 02:18 PM

call this number 4062181. they said use what is given at the polling station. it wont be an issue!

niroshan de Mel Thursday, 08 January 2015 10:45 AM

Moratuwa division 64. pencil is used.

Wenasakata Thursday, 08 January 2015 02:06 PM

I used a black pen provided by the polling station Does this mean vote is rejected? Pls clarify.

Nicole Phillips Thursday, 08 January 2015 01:58 PM

Austin Place, Colombo 08 polling booth had a pen which was attached to the booth by a piece of string. Colour of ink = Blue

lucky Thursday, 08 January 2015 01:28 PM

kirulapona polling Centre Brown pen via DM Android App

KULARATNE Thursday, 08 January 2015 01:33 PM

Dehiwela - Preysbeterian School polling station had black pens. Does this mean votes are rejected? Pls clarify.

CHANGE Thursday, 08 January 2015 01:30 PM

Colombo 13 polling booth uses normal natraj pencils which can be easily erased.. What does this mean????

Richard Thursday, 08 January 2015 01:30 PM

Polling Division : DehiwalaPolling District Number : 37Pencils Provided

Cry6 Thursday, 08 January 2015 01:25 PM

there was only a black pen at the nugegoda polling station! good job on the early notice boss! our votes better not be rejected despite the stupid color!

dingiri Thursday, 08 January 2015 12:12 AM

why complicate things. let people bring their own pens!!! what if someone walks of with your orange/brown pens accidentally??? Ill thought procedure.

MY3 Thursday, 08 January 2015 08:45 AM

They gave black colour pen

chandana Thursday, 08 January 2015 08:44 AM

I cast my vote at 7.05 am today ( 8/1 ) at Wickremasinharamaya polling booth at Nawala Road , Nugegoda -- there was a ball-point pen attached to a string , in the booth where one marks the ballot paper -- the pen was neither ORANGE nor BROWN -- it was either BLACK or BLUE , and EVERYONE marked with the same pen. So , are we to understand that ALL ballot papers from that polling booth will be REJECTED !This indeed is a great mystery

AMJayasinha Thursday, 08 January 2015 08:43 AM

This is strange because I just returned after voting.No such pens were provided.Only normal pens were given. T he place is the Temple in Miriswatte Piliyandala on the Maharagama Road. Pl. forward this immediately to the EC to ensure that the votes are not rejected. Thanks

Vijith Pieterz Thursday, 08 January 2015 08:37 AM

Correct Sir, this time you have implemented the right rules.

George@idola.lk Thursday, 08 January 2015 07:14 AM

You call this news..... Obviously they give you a pen. Our people are not in kindergarten via DM Android App

Ralahamy Thursday, 08 January 2015 06:12 AM

This is not in Section 51 as a reason fr rejection. Is the Commissioner making a new ruling?

Nims Thursday, 08 January 2015 03:04 AM

EC should NOT have mentioned the colors of the pens

Ram Thursday, 08 January 2015 02:01 AM

This advice is too late

Ranjith Hettige Thursday, 08 January 2015 08:58 AM

Today at sharp 7 AM i went to the polling booth Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya,Kiribathgoda to cast my vote and me and the rest at the rest athe polling were given pencils to mark the polling card although the News paper says today that the people will be given either orange or brown pencils.For your attention Mr.Election Commissioner.

Maghribi Wednesday, 07 January 2015 10:28 PM

Fishy

senaka Wednesday, 07 January 2015 10:07 PM

In the front page of daily mirror of 7th jan. A question of can we use a pen of our own the answer given was yes (carbon pen). What is correct?

Adam Ant Wednesday, 07 January 2015 09:44 PM

As if only the Elections Commissioner has orange and brown pens?! Hmmm....

jaffna boy Wednesday, 07 January 2015 09:22 PM

it seems the voters turnout in the north would be much less. attitude is that people thinks that we dont get anything whoever comes to power. both are same.. there is no suprise if MR gets 50% of the vote in Jaffna

sampath Wednesday, 07 January 2015 07:45 PM

Well done .. work on comitioner comand .. he has d power To make corect dicition.

Dave G. Wednesday, 07 January 2015 07:02 PM

Sir,As this is news to me many more who will vote might not be aware of this so please instruct your staff to have a notice at all polling stations.Thank you.Dave G.

Freebird Wednesday, 07 January 2015 06:56 PM

Sir you could have keep silent on the colour of the pen and informed the public to use only the pen provided by the dept. via DM Android App

Meelan Thursday, 08 January 2015 09:55 AM

We are so much used to BLACK and BLUE pens. When recalling carefully, I am now confident that it was a BROWN pen. May be Same with you too

PS Thursday, 08 January 2015 10:43 AM

Same here.. I voted at Polhengoda polling booth and they only provided a black ball point pen which was tied to a string.Strange!

Nimaln Thursday, 08 January 2015 10:21 AM

The pen or pencil was given to mark the ballot papers put into the Ballot Box end of the day. Then can recognize the accuracy.

Sk Thursday, 08 January 2015 10:15 AM

EC took the voters for a ride.

manj Thursday, 08 January 2015 10:07 AM

same polling station my mother had a pencil i had a blue ballpoint pen!!! please clarify!!! hope our valuable votes will not be rejected!!! this is very misleading!

ranjan Thursday, 08 January 2015 10:07 AM

TRUE!

Sean Thursday, 08 January 2015 10:04 AM

We could not even see what type of pen, because it is too dark at the polling booth.

KIng Thursday, 08 January 2015 10:01 AM

Some places voters provided PENCILS ...............!

Dinesh Thursday, 08 January 2015 09:57 AM

In Holy Rosary Catholic Vidyalaya they have given me a Pencil to mark.This is petty confusion and need to be clear by EC

Mason Wednesday, 07 January 2015 06:40 PM

There had been no such ruling before. Why only this time. What guarantee that the markings by these pens will not disappear

Nilal Nanhimiarachchi Thursday, 08 January 2015 09:55 AM

The pen Provided @ Marawila Girls school (Puttalama dist: -Nattandiya) Was a purple colour. What is going on?

Sara Thursday, 08 January 2015 09:51 AM

Same here, in kotahena poll booth they gave us atlas chooty black color pen, i asked them whether this is the correct pen, they said yes?

jaye Thursday, 08 January 2015 09:49 AM

commissioner confusing all .i

Don Quixote Thursday, 08 January 2015 09:44 AM

only pencils are being provided in Wattala. So does this mean all votes are rejected ?

SL Thursday, 08 January 2015 09:39 AM

It was a black pen not orange or brown....

Madu Thursday, 08 January 2015 09:34 AM

I also returned from Parakramabahu Maha Vidyalaya, Narahenpita polling booth. There was aball point pen atatched to string

Mangala Thursday, 08 January 2015 09:21 AM

Please get a conformation from election commissioner. Other wise all those votes will be rejected.

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Don’t use your pen

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