8 April 2010 09:46 am
Amidst concerns expressed by some voters that a few polling agents are noting down their voter number on the counter foil of the ballot paper thus leaving room for the voter to be identified, the Department of Elections said the move is not illegal and falls within the elections regulations.
A high ranking official at the Elections Department told Daily Mirror online that they had received some complaints by voters who demanded for an explanation after their numbers on the polling cards were noted but said that they were explained that the move was not illegal.
“Noting the numbers on the reverse side of the counter foil falls within the legal requirements. I referred to the law, and it is a must that all officers enter the number of the voter on the reverse side of the counter foil. This is not illegal,” the official said.
However due to the large number of complaints, election observers will raise the matter with Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka on the purpose of noting the numbers.
PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi told Daily Mirror online that several such complaints had been lodged from Colombo and the purpose of such a move was not known.
“We received such complaints from some voters but we need to know the purpose of this. We do not know whether this will have any impact,” Hettiarachchi said. (Daily Mirror online)