Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, has confirmed that all eligible voters can cast their ballots in today’s 2025 Local Government Elections—even if they have not received their official polling card.
Speaking on TV Derana’s 360° programme on May 5, Ratnayake assured the public that the absence of a polling card does not disqualify a person from voting. “Anyone who has not received their official polling card can visit the relevant sub-post office and obtain it. However, not having this document will not prevent a person from voting,” he stated.
He stressed that the essential requirement for voting is a valid form of identification, such as a:
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National Identity Card (NIC)
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Valid passport
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Foreign driving license
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Government Pensioner ID (for pensioners)
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Elders’ Identity Card issued by the Department of Social Services
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Clergy ID card issued by the Department for Registration of Persons
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Confirmation documents with photographs (for those awaiting identity cards or passports)
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Temporary identity cards for disabled individuals issued by the Election Commission
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Temporary identity cards for other eligible voters issued by election offices
“If a voter possesses any of these accepted documents, they will be allowed to vote at their designated polling station,” Ratnayake affirmed.
Meanwhile, voting for the 2025 Local Government Elections began this morning, with over 17 million registered voters eligible to cast their votes at 13,759 polling centers nationwide.
