ISLAMABAD: It is very simple for any entitled citizen to learn to cast vote confidently without wasting it.
From registering as a voter to dropping ballot in the box, the process is easy.
To participate in general elections in Pakistan, you must be registered as a voter.
Voter registration remains open throughout the year, but once the election schedule is published, voter rolls are frozen and no new registrations can be made until after the election.
A person can easily get information whether he is registered as a voter or not. He can simply send an SMS to his CNIC number to 8300, then he will receive information about the polling station etc. if he is eligible to vote.
Voting procedure
You need to appear in person at the polling station with your CNIC to cast your vote.
Remember that the polling staff will not allow anyone to vote without the original CNIC – not a copy.
Once a person enters the polling station, the presiding officer will check their name and number on the electoral roll, announce them and then cross them off the list to indicate that you have been issued a ballot.
As the national and provincial assembly elections are held on the same day, the voter receives two ballot papers, a green one for the National Assembly election and a white one for the provincial assembly election.
The ballot will be stamped and signed by the polling officer on the back.
Please note that a vote will not be considered eligible to be counted if there is no stamp or signatures on the back.
One also receives a personal mark created in indelible ink on any finger or thumb of any hand.
The presiding officer shall also enter his voter number in the voter list and the identity card number on the slip of the ballot paper and stamp and sign them.
They will then thumb print it just like they would the electoral roll against your post.
Once this is all done, you can go to the area reserved for marking the ballot.
The voter would then stamp the name or symbol of their preferred candidate. When finished, fold it up and stuff it in the ballot box.
