PAFFREL says the approximate island voter turnout is around 75-80 percent

The Election watchdog People’s Action For Fair and Free Elections (PAFFREL) said that the approximate voter turnout on the island is around 75-80 per cent in the recently concluded Presidential polls. 

The high voter participation reflected a strong public commitment to democracy, according to PAFFREL. Despite 164 complaints, mostly related to election law violations, the election proceeded peacefully due to the coordinated efforts of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) and Sri Lanka Police, it observed in a report released after the conclusion of voting this evening. 

The election watchdog also noted that incidents and complaints of abuse of state power, resources, and employees from the pre-election period to the polling day were significant in the recently concluded polls compared to the Presidential Election in 2019. 

This was brought on by the prevailing economic crisis, the ambiguity
caused by the fact that the incumbent President was also a candidate, and the attempts of the government members, who sought to influence voters using state power, the report from PAFFREL said.

Several election law violations were reported from areas including Yatiyantota, Devinuwara, Gampaha, Matara, and Kolonnawa, ranging from illegal election propaganda to voter transportation.

Additionally, five incidents of intimidation, threats, and assaults occurred in Naula, Meddekanda, Bandarawela, Beragama, and Maussawa. However, none of these incidents significantly impacted the polling process on Election Day.

Social media played a larger role, though incidents of hate speech and violence were lower than in previous elections, PAFFREL noted while calling for calm during the post-election period as well.