The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) is concerned by widespread reports of Sri Lankan voters not receiving polling cards to vote in the upcoming presidential elections, and not finding their names on the 2018 electoral register after consulting their Grama Niladharis, or on the online electoral register. CMEV has to date received over 100 individual complaints from voters in this regard.
CMEV raised this issue with the Election Commission last week, but is yet to receive a response. Voter concern about this issue is growing across social media channels. Messages providing different and contradictory instructions to voters on how to verify their voter registration, and how to approach Grama Niladharis if they find themselves not on the register, are being shared widely.
CMEV is particularly concerned of possible confusion and potential disruptive incidents at polling centres on election day if/when voters find out that they are unable to vote due to their names not being on the electoral register as they expected.
CMEV requests the Electoral Commission to clarify the situation immediately, and to provide clear instructions to voters if they have not received polling cards and/or find out they are not on the electoral register.
CMEV also requests the Election Commission provide details about what instruction has been provided to election officials to resolve electoral registration issues on election day.
CMEV advises voters in Sri Lanka to check their electoral registration details on the Election Commission’s electoral register website (at https://eservices.elections.gov.lk/myVoterRegistration.aspx), particularly if they have not received a polling card.
If, after submitting their details, voters find their names on the electoral register, CMEV advises:
- To take a screenshot with them to their polling centre on. election day, and
- To carefully confirm where their polling centre is
- A polling card is not mandatory in order to vote – a valid form of ID is all that is required, if one is registered.
If, after submitting their details, voters find out that their names are not on the electoral register, CMEV advises:
- To contact their District Election Officer or the national Election Secretariat to clarify their registration.
- A list of District Election Officer contact details can be found at: https://elections.gov.lk/web/en/contact-us/contact-information/district-offices/
The national Election Secretariat is located at Sarana Mawatha, Rajagiriya, Colombo and can be contacted at 011 2868441 or 011 2868442.
CMEV argues all voters behave in a calm and lawful manner and to not act in any way to threaten the conduct of a peaceful election. CMEV is asking the Election Commission to make a statement clarifying this issue in the hope of ensuring this outcome.
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