Despite the rights and freedoms to vote, there are a few basic rules that voters need to follow when voting, so that they do not end up breaking the Law. They should do the following;
- Make sure you carry along your National ID or NIN
- When you arrive, ONLY Electoral Commission staff will take you through the voting process.
- You will receive a ballot paper listing your candidate, party, symbol in your constituency.
- Read it carefully and then vote for your chosen candidate by ticking or us of a thumb print.
- When you are ready fold the ballot paper for privacy and insert it in the ballot box.
- Avoid writing comments on the ballot paper for your candidate, do not sign your ballot paper or imprint names. It will not count.
- You are not allowed to photograph the ballot paper you receive at a polling station. A selfie risks giving away how someone voted which is against the law.
- Stay sober, drunken people can be disruptive and can spoil their ballot paper.
- Persons with disabilities, and elderly should seek help from the polling officials.
- Voting is secretive. Avoid discussing candidates inside the polling station. It can easily unsettle others. Always alert the polling staff if someone is discussing a candidate inside the polling area.
- Do not distribute any election related materials. It clearly shows your political allegiance and if in large groups its an act of intimidation.
- Employers are warned against refusing their employees time off for voting or even penalizing them after voting.
- Do not bribe others to vote in a certain way or not to vote at all.
- Do not threaten or ask someone else to threaten or impose violence on other voters at the polling station.
- Do not campaign at the polls because all political activities on polling day are prohibited like displaying campaign symbols, verbally advocating for a specific candidate, and having campaign literature. In addition, wearing political attire to the polls, such as T-shirt, caps is considered campaigning. Therefore, let us leave all the political swag at home.
Regarding health, all voters must know that voting safely during the pandemic requires wearing a mask, hand washing or use of hand sanitizer and on observing social distance. Precautions are really important because of the high COVID location.