Beware of fake ballot papers - Elections Commissioner

Elections Chief Dayananda Dissanayake said that people who cast their vote at Tuesday’s presidential election should not fall for fake ballot papers, currently being circulated in several areas in the country.

Commissioner Dissanayake told a media briefing at the Election Secretariat in Rajagiriya on Friday that circulating fake ballot papers is a punishable offence and it could deceive voters, especially those who are less educated.

He, therefore, called upon people who resort to such activities to refrain from doing so to hold a free and fair election on January 26.

The Elections Commissioner said that large size ballot papers, printed by the Election Secretariat are displayed at all polling booths on the polling day to educate voters about the names of candidates and their symbols.

He said that there are 22 symbols on each ballot paper and voters could either mark a cross against each symbol or mark preferences 1, 2 and 3 against the symbols of three candidates of their choice.

“If more than three preferences are marked on the ballot paper it would be invalidated,” he said.

AK