National Assembly election 2011-How to vote |24 September 2011

Voting is a very serious matter and voters have to do so freely, peacefully, orderly and in dignity.

The following short explanation is aimed at taking voters through the voting process to make things easier and more familiar on election day.

1. Go to the polling station where you have registered as early as possible.  Bring your National Identity Card or any form of identification such as your passport to identify yourself.  Avoid wearing anything which may identify you as a member of any political party and which may excite supporters of other parties.

2. Queue in the line outside the polling station and obey the instructions of polling officers to maintain order.

3. Upon entering the station, go to TABLE 1 where the Check Officer will check your left hand to ascertain that you have not yet voted.  The officer will then put your hand under the UV light in a second test.  If no ink shows on your thumb and index finger you will move to TABLE 2 where the Documents Check Officer sits.

4. The Documents Check Officer looks for your name on the Register of Voters for your electoral area and then calls out your name, National Identity Number (NIN) and your Date of Birth for the benefit of the polling agents who are also checking their copy of the voter’s register. He then puts a tick against your name in the register to denote that you have made an application to vote.

5. Answer any questions put to you by the Officer.  You will then move on to TABLE 3 to the Ink Marking Officer.

6. The Ink Marking Officer marks your left thumb with indelible ink and sprays the index finger of your left hand with invisible ink.  The officer then checks your left hand under the UV light to ensure that your thumb and index finger are well stained.
You then move on to TABLE 4 to the Ballot Paper Officers to collect your ballot paper.

7. There are two (2) Ballot Paper Officers.  The first officer tears a ballot paper from the ballot paper book and passes it to the second officer who puts the official mark.  He/she folds the papers to show you how to fold it after you have marked it.

8. Look carefully at your ballot paper. The ballot paper will include the name of the candidates, their political parties (where applicable), their party symbol and their photos.

9. Within the polling station you should not talk to anyone other than the Electoral Officer.  If you are an incapacitated or illiterate voter, the person you select to act as your witness should not in any way attempt to influence your vote. He/she should refrain from talking to you.  He /she is there only to verify the Electoral Officer or his deputy has correctly recorded your vote.

10. Upon receipt of your ballot paper, go straight to a vacant booth and there you will mark your paper with the felt-marker which is provided.  If you have any difficulties with the marker, please seek the assistance of any officer.

11. On the ballot paper, insert a mark in the empty box against the photograph of the candidate whom you want to vote for.
It is important that you only insert one (1) mark on the ballot paper.  The mark can be a tick   , cross  +  , or  X.
DO NOT write or insert any other marks on the ballot paper.

12. After marking your ballot paper, fold it on the right hand side first, then fold the left side on to the right side and then fold it in two.

13. After you have folded your paper, move out of the polling booth and go straight to the ballot box and drop it in the slot on top of the ballot box.

14. Leave the polling station promptly.  Please vacate the electoral area immediately upon the casting of your vote.