EC reverses its decision to allow those under quarantine to vote on 31 July

By Ranil Dharmasena and Rathindra Kuruwita

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday said it would not go ahead with a proposal to allow those at quarantine centres or those undergoing self-quarantine to vote on July 31, as there were no legal provisions.

Addressing the media, EC Chairman, Mahinda Deshapriya said some parties had objected to the decision to allow those in quarantine to vote on July 31. Considering those objections, the EC had reversed its decision, he said.

However, the EC will try to help those under quarantine to vote by allocating 30 minutes, from 5 pm to 5.30 pm for them. Their ballots would be handled with extreme caution, Deshapriya said.

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said that a number of obstacles prevented the commission from implementing its original plan.

“There are time and logistics issues but the biggest hurdle is the lack of positive engagement from the health officials and political parties,” CMEV’s national coordinator, Manjula Gajanayake told The Island.

Political parties in some districts had opposed the decision to allow those in quarantine to vote, alleging that it could lead to irregularities, Gajanayake said. On the other hand, health officials were not too keen on the Commission’s initiative, he said.