Parliamentary polls 2020 Postal voting commenced yesterday

• The EC postponed postal voting at the Rajanganaya Divisional Secretariat due to the sharp rise in detection of COVID-19 positive cases in  that area
• Around 1,000 election monitors will be deployed to monitor the postal voting up to July 21st   

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

 Medical staff who have been assigned for election duty, cast their votes by post yesterday (13) at 327 MOH offices, at the beginning of postal voting for the August 5th General election. 

Medical officers, PHIs, nurses, family health nurses and para-medical staff among 705,005 public servants who are eligible for postal voting, were scheduled to cast their votes by post yesterday.   

However, Chairman of the Elections Commission (EC) Mahinda Deshapriya said the EC postponed postal voting at the Rajanganaya Divisional Secretariat on account of the sharp rise in detection of COVID-19 positive cases in that area.   

Officers at the divisional secretariats, education offices, agriculture offices, teachers and other respective officers are scheduled to cast their votes today and tomorrow (14 and 15) and on the16th and 17th. Postal voting will take place at Police stations, Army, Air-Force and Navy camps. 

The EC expects to have discussions on assigning election monitors for military camps where officers are engaged in quarantine duties, Mr. Deshapriya added.   Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Rohana Hettiarachchi meanwhile said around 1,000 election monitors will be deployed to monitor the postal voting up to July 21st.   Public servants who are unable to cast their votes on the assigned dates will be able to do so on July 20 and 21 at the respective District Secretariats. The Parliamentary polls 2020, is scheduled to be held on August 5th.  

• Public servants who are unable to cast their votes on the assigned dates will be able to do so on July 20 and 21