Voters warned against taking photos, videos inside booths

Friday, 15 November 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Secret ballot should not be made public: EC
Warns against taking photos, videos to post on social media

The Election Commission (EC) has requested voters to refrain from taking photographs or making videos inside polling booths, warning offenders would be dealt with under the law.

“This is a secret ballot, and no one should take photographs of their marked or unmarked ballot papers and publish them on social media,” Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said.

He advised voters to switch off their mobile phones when entering the polling booth.

A Gazette notification prohibiting such practices was issued by the EC two weeks ago.

“Photographs should not be taken inside the polling stations, and these stations should not be videoed. If such photographs or videos have been taken by somebody else, they should not be induced to publish or distribute such photographs or videos,’ the Gazette notification said.

Public officers, including members of the Armed Forces and police officers in active service, have been warned in particular not to resort to such activities, as it is an offence to publish their photographs or declarations through electronic, print, or any other media, in order to promote or prejudice a political party or a candidate.