Proposal made to introduce advance voting for essential services

A proposal was made today (23) to introduce advance voting to enable those working in essential services to cast their votes. 

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National List MP Sagara Kariyawasam made the proposal while opening the adjournment debate on the performance report of the Election Commission. 

He pointed out that many of those from essential services continue to be disenfranchised as they are required to remain at work on election days. “As per current election laws, even those in the health sector, such as doctors and nurses, employees working on expressways, staff of aviation services and those in the hotel industry are not eligible for postal voting. As such, it would be better to introduce advance voting for such persons on a day closer to election day at their places of work,” he remarked. 

The MP however, pointed out that a large amount of funds was needed to carry out advance voting, which was one reason why the deposit money that candidates should deposit when contesting elections should definitely be increase 

"The election deposit that must be submitted by an independent candidate to contest an election has remained the same since 1981 while no deposits are required for recognized political parties. These needed to be updated," the MP stressed.