Voters allowed to vote 'outside' polling stations: Election Commission

Steps have been taken to enable voters to cast their ballot at any polling station other than the polling station in the polling division where they are registered, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said in a release yesterday.


The release added: "It is hereby announced that electors, who are unable due to reasonable fear to vote at the polling station where he is registered, can apply for permission to vote at another polling station and that arrangements can be made for them to vote accordingly, in terms of Section 125A of the Provincial Councils '
Elections Act No. 2 of 1988 as amended by Provincial Council Elections (Amendment) Act No. 7 of 1993. "The relevant section is as follows: 125 A (1) Notwithstanding the provision of any other law, any registered elector who is compelled by conditions prevailing in the area within which his polling station is situated to reside outside such areas, and who reasonably fears that he would be unable to cast his vote at such polling station may make an application to the Commissioner of Elections within one week of the notice of nomination, requesting that he may be allowed to cast his vote at another polling station determined by the Commissioner, in his absolute discretion.