Sri Lanka’s 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections witnessed a notable decline in voter turnout, sparking concerns about accessibility and participation.
While the Presidential Election saw a 79% voter turnout, the Parliamentary Elections recorded a much lower participation rate of 69%, the lowest since 2010.
The decline has prompted election observers to point to factors such as voter apathy, reduced campaigning, and logistical challenges faced by certain groups, including expatriates, essential service workers, and those in remote areas.
As discussions around improving voter accessibility intensify, there is growing pressure on the Government to introduce alternative voting methods, such as advance voting and mobile polling stations, in order to ensure greater inclusivity in future elections.
According to returning officers, the turnout for the General Elections represented a notable 10% drop compared to the Presidential Election, highlighting growing concerns about voter engagement.
Proposed legislative amendments
Election observers pointed to several factors contributing to the decline in voter turnout, including voter apathy, reduced campaigning, and the timing of polling on a weekday.
Additionally, concerns were raised about the inability of certain groups and professionals to vote due to work-related constraints.
Currently, postal voting is available only to those in public service, such as election staff and security forces like the military and Police.
However, it does not extend to professionals in sectors such as healthcare, airlines, and journalism, nor to labourers and skilled expatriates working abroad. This exclusion has led to discussions about whether existing laws should be amended to allow a broader range of professions to participate in postal voting, ensuring all eligible voters have access to the ballot.
When contacted by The Sunday Morning, Election Commission (EC) Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that according to existing laws, postal voting was only accessible to individuals involved in election duties or serving in security forces.
He stressed the EC’s commitment to addressing these issues through legislative amendments, saying: “We have already suggested specific changes to the relevant act, and if they are approved by Parliament, these issues will be resolved.”
According to him, the proposed changes include advance voting, which would allow individuals to vote ahead of the scheduled election day, and establishing special polling stations on election day. These amendments consider expatriates, individuals working in essential services, and the private sector.
Groups excluded from the system
Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Executive Director Manjula Gajanayake highlighted a deeper issue: the exclusion of certain groups from the voting process.
“The problem is not voter turnout but the missing people from the system,” he stated.
According to him, out of 5.3 million eligible voters who did not participate in the recent elections, significant groups include around 2.6 million expatriates working in the Middle East, around 600,000 skilled labourers with dual citizenship or permanent residency abroad, and around 1.2 million individuals unable to vote due to logistical or occupational barriers.
Other excluded groups include persons with disabilities, prisoners, journalists, election observers, fishermen, hospitalised individuals, and those travelling abroad, according to Gajanayake.
“The elections were conducted on a Thursday – although it was legal, being a weekday, most labourers missed the chance to go to polling stations. Additionally, workers at security firms, garment factories, supermarkets, and hundreds of thousands of others could not vote. At the last Presidential Election, most employers provided leave, but this time, they were unable to do so on a weekday,” Gajanayake observed.
He noted that the current law was not strong enough to hold employers legally accountable. In the Government sector, employees who have been denied the chance to vote can file complaints citing a violation of their fundamental rights. However, in the private sector, there is no robust legal framework; instead, there is only a guideline issued by the EC in partnership with the Department of Labour.
Need for alternative voting methods
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Executive Director Ahmed Manas Makeen also highlighted several reasons contributing to the inability of people to cast their votes.
Many voters residing in Colombo but registered in other areas were unable to secure leave from their employers to travel. For those needing to travel long distances, such as to Jaffna, a round trip would require at least 3-4 days, which is often unfeasible. Additionally, the high cost of transportation further discouraged many from making the journey to their polling stations.
Gajanayake stressed the importance of alternative voting methods to bridge these gaps. “While postal voting is an ideal solution, some authorities in Sri Lanka view it as a privilege,” he explained.
He proposed additional measures such as mobile and temporary polling stations for groups such as persons with disabilities, prisoners, and those in remote locations. Additionally, he suggested establishing temporary polling stations at ports, airports, and prisons to facilitate voting access.
“Altogether, postal voting and temporary polling stations are what we identify as alternative voting methods,” he stated, highlighting the necessity of promoting these systems to ensure broader voter participation.
Makeen noted that CaFFE planned to request the President and the Government on Friday (22) to adopt an advance voting system.
He stressed that this system should be implemented as soon as possible on behalf of voters, pointing out that the process would be smoother given the ruling party’s two-thirds majority in Parliament.
However, he expressed uncertainty about whether it would be in place before the Local Government Elections, as the date for those elections were yet to be announced. Nonetheless, he stated that the system should be implemented before the next Presidential or Parliamentary Elections.
“This advance voting system would allow Sri Lankans working abroad, as well as those in the health sector, journalists, election observers, and individuals in other professional circles to vote prior to election day,” he explained.
Gajanayake noted that other countries had already implemented effective alternative voting methods.
“In the US, they offer email voting, postal voting, and computer-based voting systems. At the same time, most countries use absentee voting,” he said.
He also pointed out that in South Korea, ships were used as polling stations for those working in the fisheries sector, while in Burma, election authorities visited the homes of persons with disabilities to collect their votes. He highlighted that such systems were considered effective in many countries.
Addressing what was needed before moving towards online voting, Gajanayake said: “As a first step, we need to build the confidence of the people. It is better to start by using postal voting and other alternative methods, such as temporary polling stations and mobile polling stations.”