Preparations Before Election
Preparations Before Election
Preparations Before Election
Introduction
Before election, the Presiding Officer of a Polling Station shall observe the following procedures:
STEP 1: Take delivery of all sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections, from the Supervisory Presiding Officer.
STEP 2: Verify and record all items received on Form DSIEC 16 in duplicate, sign the form as receipt for the items, submit one copy of the form to the Supervisory Presiding Officer and keep the other copy.
STEP 3: Visit the location of his polling station to:
- Identify the most suitable layout of the polling station and
- Make arrangements for tables and chairs to be used at the polling station on Election Day.
STEP 4: In conjunction with the Supervisory Presiding Officer, the Polling Station Presiding Officer must make sure that the location chosen for the polling station conforms to standards established by DSIEC and makes sure he knows the measures to take in case of any security challenge.
- He/ She ensures that materials collected agree with the items in Appendix V(a).
- Election Day Administration
Receipt of election materials on election day
The Presiding Officer shall proceed as follows:
- Arrive at the Polling Station not later than 7.00 a.m. on Election Day
- Receives sensitive materials at the polling station from the Supervisory Presiding Officer duly recorded and signed in Form DSIEC 16. He should guard or watch over them until commencement of voting.
- Record in Form DSIEC 11 the serial numbers of the ballot papers and total quantity of ballot papers for each type of election received from the Supervisory Presiding Officer. See the materials for Polling Station in Appendix V(a).
Setting up and opening the polling station
The Presiding Officer having received the sensitive materials from Supervisory Presiding Officer and having arrived the Polling Station not later than 7.00 a.m. on the Election Day, shall accomplish the following tasks:
- Remove all campaign posters or other partisan materials from the vicinity of the polling station.
- Arrange the tables and chairs to facilitate easy access for voters. Position the table so that it is the first step for voters as they enter the Polling Station.
- Hang up the poster listing the candidates/parties and their logos, and the "How to Vote" poster in the waiting area.
- The polling booth shall be positioned such that voters can thumbprint their ballot papers in SECRET. Fig. i above, ii & iii below depict typical polling station set-up that are recommended for adoption when setting up a voting centre.
- Place one stamp pad in the polling booth for use by the voters to thumbprint the ballot papers.
- Allow accredited Party Agents. Domestic/International Observers and Journalists to enter the polling station
- Place the register of voters, DSIEC stamp, endorsing ink, indelible ink and biro for the use of the Poll Clerk/Assistant
- Place the ballot papers for the type of Election, DSIEC stamp, stamp pad, endorsing ink and biro for the use of the Presiding Officer.
Opening the poll
The Presiding Officer shall:
- Declare the poll open at 8:00am with accreditation of voters
- Open the ballot box and display it to the full view of all persons present at the polling station to show that the ballot box is empty.
- Lock the ballot box with the seal or padlock provided and place the ballot box in full view of the public for the receipt of ballot papers.
- Explain the voting procedure to all persons present with the aid of the "How to Vote" enlightenment poster provided in the polling station.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Scan through some very pertinent questions Citizens are asking
about DSIEC time table and schedule.
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