Complaint against election officer

• The voter had complained that the officer she had sought help from had marked the vote for another party instead of the one of her choice

By Ranjith Rajapakse   
A voter in Polpitiya area in Ginigathena has complained against an officer on duty at Minuwandeniya polling booth that he marked the vote to a different political party and not the one she wanted to vote for.  
The 63 year old woman stated that she called over at the polling station and sought the help of an officer on duty to mark the vote to the political party of her preference. She stated that the officer marked the vote and three preferences and gave her the folded ballot paper to be inserted in the ballot box, but she unfolded it and found that he had marked the vote for another party and not for the political party she wanted to vote for. 
She said when she questioned about it he again marked the vote to the party she wanted and warned her not to shout She further stated in her complaint that she pointed out to the officers that the ballot was not valid now but she dropped it into the ballot box.
Nuwara Eliya District Returning Officer Nandana Galaboda said he would conduct a formal investigation after receiving the complaint.