All You Need to Know About the 2025 Local Government Election..!!!

The 2025 Local Government Election will be held tomorrow, May 6. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. across the country at 13,759 polling centres. 

How to vote: 

Each voter receives one ballot paper showing:

• Political party or independent group names along with their symbols
• Voters must mark an X in the box next to their chosen party or independent group. While you may have a preferred candidate, votes are cast only for parties or groups—not for individual candidates. The local government election does not allow voting directly for candidates.
• No other marks are allowed; incorrectly marked ballots will be rejected.

What to Bring:

A polling card is not required, but bringing it is advised.

Voters must present one of 10 accepted forms of ID to cast a ballot:

• The National Identity Card issued by the Department of Registration of Persons
• A valid passport
• A valid driving license
• Temporary driving license document with photograph
• The pensioners Identity Card issued by the Department of Pensions
• The Elders’ Identity Card issued by the Divisional Secretariat
• The Bikkhu or Priest Identity Card issued by the Department of Registration of Persons
• A letter issued by the Department of Registration of Persons confirming the particular of the National Identity Card
• Temporary Identity Card issued by the Election Commission
• Temporary Identity Card issued to disabled persons by the Election Commission

Key Numbers:

• Eligible voters: 17,156,338
• Accepted postal voters: 648,494
• Polling centers: 13,759
• Candidates: 75,589
• Seats to be filled: 8,287
• Political parties: 49
• Independent groups: 257

How to find your candidate: 

The National Election Commission has launched an online portal for voters to access candidate details for the 2025 Local Government Election via its website or a QR code.

How will votes be counted: 

Counting will take place at the polling centeres, where results for each area or ward will be announced at the polling centre itself. The Election Commission will release the cumulative results for the respective local authorities. (Newswire)