Election Day Rules: What You Can’t Do at the Polls

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Election Commission issued a strict set of guidelines ahead of the Local Authorities Election scheduled for May 6, 2025, aimed at ensuring a secure, fair, and orderly voting process.

According to the Commission, the following activities are strictly prohibited at polling and counting centers:

- Using mobile phones

- Taking photographs

- Recording videos

- Possessing firearms

- Smoking, drinking alcohol, or using intoxicants

- Entering under the influence of alcohol or intoxicants

The Commission emphasized that photographing or filming polling stations or marked ballot papers, and sharing such content on social media, constitutes a violation of election laws. All social media users and administrators have been strongly advised to refrain from such actions.

- Polling Date: May 6, 2025  

- Polling Time: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

- Polling Centers: 13,759 across the country  

- Eligible Voters: Over 17 million citizens  

- Security: 65,000+ police officers deployed nationwide

The Election Commission has also declared a mandatory silence period, which began at midnight on May 3, prohibiting all forms of campaigning and political advertising.