Wednesday, 26th November 2014
Chaminda Perera
Nominations for the upcoming Presidential election will be received from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m on December 8, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday.
He said that objections will also be accepted from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. the same day. Deshapriya said that candidates of political parties should make a deposit of Rs. 50,000 and those coming forward as Independents, Rs. 75,000.
Poll cards are to be handed over to the Postal Department on December 20 to be distributed to voters. Special delivery of poll cards to voters will also take place on December 28 islandwide, he said. Deshapriya said Elections Department officials have discussed with the Posts Master General to ensure the early distribution of poll cards to voters.
The Elections Commissioner addressing the media on the preliminary arrangements for the Presidential poll to be held on January 8, added that those entitled to postal voting has x marked against their names in the electoral register while those who are abroad have A marked against their names. He said Sri Lankans who returned from abroad can cast their vote by producing their passport at the polling station. Postal voting for the Presidential vote will take place on December 23 and 24. Government servants who fail to cast their postal vote on December 23 and 24 can do so at the District Secretariat on December 30. Deshapriya said applications for postal voting will be presented to district returning officers on or before December 4.
The Commissioner added that over 15 million persons are entitled to cast their vote at the presidential poll and among them 300,000 to 400,00 voters are presumed to have no National Identity cards.
"Of these, 50 percent are without either NIC, driving licence, passport or any other identity card accepted by the Elections Department," he said. The Commissioner said he has already discussed with officials of the Department of Registration of Persons on the possibility of organising mobile services to issue National Identity cards to them.
He added that the people who are unable to obtain the National Identity can apply for a temporary Identity Card from the Department.
From : http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=political/nominations-december-8
