How To Vote

​The 7th presidential election will take place tomorrow where 15,044,490 voters will be eligible to vote at the election. Polling begins at 7.00 am. and ends at 4.00 p.m. at 12,314 polling centres. 


1.The first officer seated at the entrance will check whether the voter has a poll card and an identity document and trace the name on the voters' list. The Identity document is compulsory but not the poll card. The officer will call out the name and the serial number of the voter loud enough to be heard by the polling agents and the officer in charge of the ballot papers. 




2.The voter will then move to the marking officer who will examine the little finger of the left hand to check whether it has any mark similar to the one that will be marked with Indelible Ink. If satisfied the little finger of the left hand will be marked with indelible ink and then direct the next officer. 






3.The third officer would have meanwhile written the voter's serial number on the counterfoil of the ballot paper. If everything is in order the ballot paper with the face upward will be handed over to the voter. 








4.The voter will then move Into one of the cubicles, mark the ballot paper according to the guidelines on the notice Inside the cubicle, fold the ballot paper and place It in  the ballot box. 





HOW TO VOTE
Mark the letter "X" or the figure "1” in the space provided for the purpose on the tight hand side of the ballot paper opposite the symbol and the name of the candidate of your choice. 





HOW TO MARK PREFERENCES 
Where there are more than three candidates at an election, a voter is allowed to specify his/her second and third preferences, by marking the figure “2” to indicate his second preference and the figure “3” to indicate his/her third preference opposite the symbol and the name of the candidate.




A ballot paper is valid even without the second and third preference marked on it. 



But a ballot paper with a second and/or third preferance only will be rejected as invalid.



APPROVED IDENTITY CARDS
- National Identity Card
- Valid Driver Licence
- Valid Passport
- Pensloner’s Identity Card
- Elder’s Identity Card
- Identity Card Issued to the clergy by the Department of Registration of Person and temporary Identity Cards Issued by the Department of Elections  



BALLOT BOX
Every ballot box shall be so constructed that the ballot papers can be put into it, but cannot be withdrawn without the box being unlocked. Before the start of polling at 7.00 a.m. the empty ballot box is shown to the party representatives present. The box will be then locked and sealed. The key to the ballot box will also be enclosed in an envelope and sealed. Representatives present will be allowed to place their seals as well and samples of their seals obtained. 







BALLOT PAPER 
The ballot paper contains the names of the candidates in Sinhala. Tamil and English. Their names appear as in their nomination papers and listed In the ballot paper according to the Sinhala alphabet. The relevant symbol approved by Elections Commisioner   appears in front of the candidate's name.





HOW TO CHECK WHETHER YOU ARE REGISTERED?

Follow the link and Enter your District and NIC number 
http://www.slelections.gov.lk/id/index.aspx


WHOM DO WE CONTACT WHEN NOT REGISTERED
Senior Presiding Officer (SPO) or Junior Presiding Officer (JPO) in polling centre.


HOW THE PRESIDENT IS ELECTED
- If none of the candidates get more than 50% of the total votes. all candidates other than the top two ale eliminated and preferential votes of those eliminated candidate: will be counted. 

- Firstly. the second preferential votes of the other candidates except the first two candidates will be counted and added to the tally of the two main candidates. 

- If any candidate gets more than 50%, at this point. he will be elected the president. 



WHOM DO WE CALL IF THERE IS ANY PROBLEM IN THE POLLING  BOOTH
- Police Emergency - 119
- Department of Elections - 0112868441 / 0112868444