Dear First-Timers, You Better Take Care Of These Things While Voting Tomorrow!

In case you didn’t know it, the much awaited Pakistani general elections are scheduled to be held tomorrow i.e. 25th of July, 2018. Less-than-24-hours away from the final showdown, people in Pakistan are busy planning and preparing for the process, especially the ones who will make their debut as a voter tomorrow. According to the figures released by Election Commission Pakistan (ECP), around 8,100,000 individuals will vote for the first time in their lives this year. Thus, in order to help the first-timers with their anxiety, we have listed down certain do’s and don’ts of voting. Take care of these things while voting tomorrow and you’ll just be fine!

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DO’S

1. This is probably the most important thing on the list. In order to cast your vote you need to know your assigned polling station. So, do confirm all the information regarding your tomorrow’s destination at prior basis by texting your CNIC number (without hyphens or dashes) to 8300. ECP will respond to your query shortly which will help you in locating your polling station and spare you a lot of inconvenience.

2. Be punctual! Polling starts at 8 AM and closes at 6 PM tomorrow. So, if you wish to cast your vote, then you better be in the polling station before 6 PM or else you face the chance of missing out.

3. Do carry your original CNIC! It’s the only instrument that not only verifies your identity as a Pakistani but also gives you the very right to vote. Remember, no photocopy but only the original CNIC will do the needful!

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DON’TS

1. On arriving at the polling station, security personnel are the first tier that you will be exposed to. Please understand that they are there for your own security and thus, you must not act impolite with them. Co-operate with the law enforcement agents when they come to search you. It’s their duty!

2. According to the new rules and regulations, voters are not allowed to take their cellphones inside the station. Therefore, don’t carry your smartphone inside and put it in a safer place without the polling officers asking you. It’ll spare you a lot of hassle.

3. Agents of each party to the contest are always present inside the polling station to ensure that rigging does not take place. It’s a work of normal routine and you don’t need to feel pressured while making a decision among these agents. On the other hand, if you find any agent doing otherwise, you must report it to the polling officer!

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MAKE SURE!

1. Make sure that the back and counterfoil of both the ballot papers are signed by the Assistant Presiding Officer or else your vote can be cancelled if and at the claim of a polling agent during the counting process.

2. Be very clear about your decision prior to casting your vote and make sure that when you stamp the ballot paper, it is both visible and does not overlap more than one candidate. In case of the opposite, your vote is vulnerable to the risk of cancellation on the account of confusion.

3. The most salient item on the make sure list! While casting your vote, be on the lookout for cameras and individuals peeking into your business and if you catch an activity of such sorts, take the matter to the polling officer.

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Remember, its our responsibility as well to ensure free and fair elections in Pakistan and thus, we must do everything in our capacity to achieve this goal.

So, do come out of your houses tomorrow, exercise your right to vote and encourage others as well to do the same because that’s the least we can do for our country!

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