NEC Informs Voters On How To Cast Vote at 2024 General Election

COLOMBO (News 1st); The National Election Commission informs all voters to use only a cross for casting votes and marking preferences.

Making a special explanation on how to cast votes and preferences at this year's general election, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake said that the ballot papers for the Polonnaruwa, Monaragala, and Kegalle electoral districts will be printed on a single column, while those for other electoral districts will be printed in two columns.

He added that a sample ballot paper relevant to each electoral district will be provided to every household along with the official election notice, which includes a printed list of candidates.

Each voter is entitled to one vote, which can be cast for an accepted political party or an independent group. 

The Commissioner General of Elections says that the name and symbol of the accepted political party, or the number and symbol of the independent group, must be marked with the cross in the empty box provided in front of it.

Furthermore, voters can express preferences for up to three candidates from the accepted political party or independent group presented. 

For this, a cross must be marked in the box corresponding to the preference number assigned to each candidate listed on the ballot paper.

The Commissioner General of Elections also adds that if a voter casts their vote for more than one accepted political party or more than one independent group, their ballot paper will be rendered invalid and will not be counted.