Election Commission Bars Mobile Phones for Presidential Polling Day

News Today: The Election Commission will not allow mobile phones inside polling stations on September 21st to prevent ballot leaks online.

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to ban voters from bringing mobile phones inside polling stations during the presidential election on September 21st. EC Chairman R. M. A. L. Rathnayake confirmed this during a seminar organized by the Sri Lanka Press Association under the theme ‘Media Role in Ensuring Free and Fair Presidential Election.’

The decision was prompted by recent incidents where images of marked ballot papers were shared online during postal voting, which raises concerns about voter privacy and election integrity. A notable case involved the arrest of an individual who uploaded a photo of their marked ballot paper on social media. To prevent this from happening during the main election, the EC will strictly prohibit voters from carrying their phones into polling stations.

The EC is committed to ensuring the integrity of the election, with all preliminary arrangements already in place for a smooth and fair polling process. This new rule aims to safeguard the secrecy of the ballot and maintain a transparent election process.