The dos and don'ts on Election Day

If you’re hoping to grab a selfie of yourself while casting your ballot today, you’ll have to wait till you’re back outside the polling station.

No cellphones — or any other device capable of recording or taking photographs — inside polling stations is one of a number of rules that the Elections Office staff will be enforcing on 30 April.

Wearing a T-shirt or any other clothing promoting your favourite party or candidate, or announcing your stance on cruise berthing, ganja or national lotteries, is also prohibited, so leave those at home. In fact, any electoral campaigning is forbidden on Election Day, and all candidate posters and billboards should have been removed by 11:59pm on Tuesday.

Voters are also encouraged not to bring bags into the polling stations with them.

What should I bring?

What you should bring with you though is your voter ID card or any other kind of government-issued photographic identification, like a passport or driver’s licence.

It may also be a good idea to bring along some water in case there are long queues outside the polling stations.

When and where do I vote?

Polling stations open today at 7am and will close at 6pm.

You can only vote at your assigned polling station. Visit the Official Register of Voters page on the Elections Office website to doublecheck which constituency you’re in. See the bottom of this article for addresses of each of the 19 polling stations.

Employers’ obligations

While Election Day is an official public holiday, there are certain jobs where staff will still be working.

Employees who are eligible and want to vote must be given sufficient time off during the day to cast their ballot.

No employer is allowed to deduct pay or penalise employees for taking time to vote. It’s worth noting that any employer who refuses or interferes with the granting of a reasonable time to vote commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $500 or six months in prison.

How to vote?

You vote by placing an X to the right of your favoured candidate’s name.

If you mark the ballot paper in any way that will identify you, the ballot paper will be rejected.

After voting, fold the ballot paper along the dotted line and hand it to the presiding officer.

For the referendum votes, place an X in the box next to ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for each question.

What if I spoil my ballot?

If you inadvertently spoil your ballot paper, you can obtain another one by returning the spoilt one to the presiding officer.

Can someone help me vote?

If you need assistance in marking your ballot, a presiding officer will help. A friend can be present to observe only.

If I missed my mobile voting date, can I still vote?

If you were approved for mobile voting and did not vote, you can still vote in person at the polls on Election Day.

Is drinking allowed on Election Day?

If you fancy celebrating casting your vote with a drink or two, unless you’ve already stocked up your beer fridge or got your bottle of rum the day before, you’ll have to wait until 7pm to indulge.

From the time the polling stations open at 7am until an hour after they close, no alcohol can be sold, offered for sale or given away at any premises in the electoral districts. The ban on alcohol sales applies to all bars, restaurants, hotels, liquor stores and commercial boats.