Bring NIC or any valid document to cast your vote: EC

Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday said that it had made compulsory for any voter to have any valid document to prove his or her identity during the presidential election which will be held on November 16.

He requested people to bring their national identity card (NIC) or documents approved by the Election Commission such as the valid passport, valid driving license, senior citizens identity card, government pensioners’ identity card, identity card issued to clergy o temporary identity card issued by the Election Commission through Grama Niladhari. Also, it was advisable to carry the official poll card which would be convenient to the voter as well as the poll staff.

If any voter does not possess a NIC or any of the above documents, they should obtain a temporary identity card issued by the Election Commission through Grama Niladhari or estate superintendents, the chairman said.

Relevant Returning Officers had been advised in this regard, he said.

"The voters who need those temporary identity cards could obtain the relevant application forms from the Grama Niladhari or estate superintendents. They should complete the application form and hand it over to the Grama Niladhari with two copies of black and white or colour photos (height 3 cm and width 2.5cm) on or before November 9th," he added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)