Cardboard ballot boxes, instead of wooden boxes, this time at presidential poll

• Indelible ink from a local supplier   
• Postal ballot papers to be sent on Monday

By Kelum Bandara 

Only ballot boxes made of cardboard will be used at  the presidential poll on September 21, instead of traditional wooden  boxes, and the election authorities are currently in the process of  making them, an official said.   
Ballot boxes will be made in small, medium and large sizes  to be dispatched to polling stations depending on the number of  registered voters with each. 

The official who wished to remain anonymous said  that only cardboard boxes were used at the 2019 presidential poll.  At the 2020 General Elections, both wooden and cardboard boxes were used.  “We will use only cardboard boxes this time,” he said.   Asked whether Rs.10 billion announced in the 2024 budget  would be enough for the conduct of the elections, he said there are  plans to spend only Rs.8 billion.  “When hiring vehicles from state institutions, we will  accept vehicles in good condition only.  

We cannot pay for their repairs  otherwise during the elections. Earlier, various state institutions  were sending us vehicles needing repairs. Then, we had to repair them at  our cost and use for election-related duties. We won’t do it this  time,” he said.   

Asked about ink to be used for indelible marks on voters’  fingers, he said sufficient stocks would be secured this time from a  local supplier instead of importing them.   

“We had a local supplier last time too. Before that, we used to secure indelible ink from a foreign supplier,” he said.   
Besides, the Election Commission was to hand over ballot  papers for postal voting yesterday. They will be posted to respective  supervising officers on Monday to conduct postal voting.