8 June 2020 12:00 am
By Kelum Bandara and Hemantha De Silva - Ambalangoda
The Election Commission which conducted a mock poll yesterday found out that polling time would not differ much due to the guidelines stipulated by the health authorities in view of Covid-19, an official said yesterday.
The Commission conducted a mock poll at Wilegoda Sri Dharmaukthikarama Viharaya in the Ambalangoda area with the participation of 239 voters to determine the actual time needed for conducting the parliamentary polls in accordance with the health guidelines.
Commission’s spokesman Saman Ratnayake told Daily Mirror that voters lined up one metre apart from each other according to instructions on social distancing.
He said the two persons had voted within one minute. Under normal circumstances, the ratio is determined as 2.3 for one minute.
Meanwhile, the polling station was cleaned and sterilized under the supervision of a team of Public Health Inspectors.
Also, he said the participants were provided with hand sanitizing liquid before entering the mock polling station in addition to facilities for washing hands. The officials assigned for duty at the mock polling station were wearing protective face cover. Mr. Ratnayake said most participants had brought pens to mark their ballot papers. “Those who were without their pens were given pens by the health authorities. After use, these pens were sanitized and reused. Besides, voter identity cards were checked without touching them. Indelible ink was applied on their fingers without touching,” he said. Besides, thermometers were used to check the body temperature of the participants. The voters were provided refreshments that included a bun and a glass of Kottamalli (coriander) water. The Commission will conduct similar mock polls in some other areas for further determination of timing and other logistics required for the actual polls. The mock poll was conducted under the supervision of EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya and Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake.