The spokesperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Paul Bukenya, has said that phones and cameras will be prohibited inside polling stations during voting.
According to Bukenya, the move is intended to protect the privacy of the voters who wish to vote in secrecy.
“You should conduct yourself in a manner that doesn’t violate the principle of secrecy, no selfies. Journalists will be able to use their cameras professionally,” says Bukenya adding that after voting, people should go back home and avoid crowding at the polling station.
Bukenya reveals that EC has not asked for COVID-19 testing of polling agents and so there is going to be strict enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
On polling day, Bukenya says that polling stations will be open at exactly 7:00 am and close at 4:00pm.
“You have seen the materials have been delivered in the districts. You should have a mask to access the polling station. The register will be the main document. Polling is from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, but just like in the bank, if 4:00 pm finds you at the polling station, you will vote,” he says.
He explains that if a voter makes a mistake on the ballot paper, he/she can tell the polling agent before dropping it so that he/she can be issued another ballot paper.