Voters must use blue or black ink

Elections Commission (EC) says that voters must use pens with blue or black ink to tick the ballot papers in the presidential election on Saturday.

In a press conference on Monday, EC’s vice chairman Ismail Habeeb said the commission held a meeting with its legal team regarding complaints submitted by some political parties, alleging attempts to compromise voter confidentiality.

Habeeb said that election laws and regulations stipulate that voters can only carry ordinary pens into polling stations.

Habeeb said the commission decided on what an “ordinary pen” means during Sunday’s meeting.

“The commission decided that an ordinary pen means ones with blue or black ink,” he said.

Habeeb said electoral officials will not accept pens with any other color of ink.

He said that though voters can carry their own pens, pens will also be available from polling stations.

He urged voters to use the pens available from the polling stations.

Habeeb added that ballot papers with more than one check mark, or extra drawing or writing, will be deemed invalid.

He said that though the voting booths in the last council elections had voters visible from the front, this year, voters will be visible from the back when they are at the booths.

Habeeb said the commission made the decisions to ascertain voter confidentiality.

“This election will be one where voters can fearlessly vote for the candidate of their choice,” he said.