Revision of Electoral Registers
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya urged all eligible voters to enter their details in enumeration forms for a revision of the Electoral Registers for 2015. A process of revision of electoral registers for enumeration of electors for the year 2015 is being carried out from May 15 to June 20.
“Accordingly, a form to furnish details for compiling the electoral register will be distributed to every household by a Grama Niladhari from May 15 to June 20. They will be collected by the Grama Niladhari by calling over at every household from June 1 onwards”, he said.
However, if a household does not receive a form by June 21, the relevant Grama Niladhari or District Elections Office should be contacted.
Deshapriya appealed to households to fill the enumeration form they receive without any further delay since every citizen should have his or her name in the electoral register to be eligible to vote at the next elections”, Deshapriya said.
The duly filled form should be handed over to the Grama Niladari when he comes to collect it after June 2. However, if one fails to submit the duly filled enumeration form to the Grma Niladari until July 31, the form should be handed over to the District Election Office, he added.
The Commissioner said Sri Lanka is a country, where a revision of electoral registers is carried out annually since universal franchise is a civic right. Sovereignty of people, which is certified by the constitution could virtually be exercised through the franchise. In order to exercise the franchise it is mandatory to have the name in the electoral register.
He said to qualify to be an elector, one has to be a citizen; be 18 years on the qualifying date; and/or is not or has served a sentence of imprisonment for a term not less than six months, during the period of seven years immediately preceding.
-dailynews-