Special mobile polling centres to facilitate those on self-quarantine

By Ajith Siriwardana

While claiming that people at quarantine centres or on self-quarantine would not be allowed to vote at normal polling station, the Elections Commission (EC) said yesterday it was considering the possibility of establishing mobile polling centres or special polling centres to facilitate such people to exercise their votes.   

EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told a news conference that they would seek legal opinion on this as it was a special circumstance.   

“We did not expect that there will be people on self-quarantine. As people on self-quarantine are on the rise, we will have to establish mobile polling centres or special polling centre to facilitate such people to exercise their votes. Those at quarantine centres will be allowed to vote at the centre itself,” he said.   

Mr. Deshapriya said this matter was discussed at the meeting held at the Election Secretariat with assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners yesterday.   

He said the EC has faced practical issues as the health guidelines issued by the health ministry had not been gazetted as yet and urged the health authorities to gazette the guidelines soon.