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Poll trial irons out health and voting wrinkles
View(s):At least 15 mock- elections involving about 200 volunteer voters in each instance have been held across Sri Lanka to identify shortcomings in implementing the health advice to keep the coronavirus at bay, the time it takes to vote, and other precautions the Election Commission would have to take for the August 5 parliamentary poll.
Early observations suggest using soap and water to wash hands outside polling booths was not advisable as wet hands dampened the ballot paper. Elections officials have recommended hand sanitisers instead.
And voting did not slow down despite compliance with health safety measures and social distancing. The number of booths were deemed sufficient.
‘Health guidelines for conducting the elections amidst the COVID-19 outbreak’ by the Ministry of Health, outlines a way to create a safe environment for voters.
People moving from their workplaces to their hometowns just before election day poses a risk of transmission of the coronavirus. So, the ministry noted that if postal voting or advance voting could be arranged for police, armed forces and government institutions where a large number of workers are accommodated and employed, it will minimise the likelihood of virus transmission between people.
Sri Lanka is preparing for the costliest election yet, where 7,452 candidates are vying for Parliament in unusual circumstances in which health officials also oversee voting.
The guidelines proposed a health administrative structure consisting 10,000-plus health workers including provincial directors of health services, regional epidemiologists, medical officers of health, and public health inspectors.
The preference numbers of candidates were gazetted this week, setting off campaigning almost immediately. Candidates have begun placing advertisements, distributing handbills, sending sms messages and using social media to promote their numbers.
The chairman of the Elections Commission, Mr Mahinda Deshapriya, said the election could cost anything over Rs 7 billion due to health precautions.
Forty political parties and dozens of independent groups have handed in their nominations.
The longest list of candidates is from the Colombo district.
