Finding the right polling booth within a large polling station can become a source of confusion, and may even lead voter disenfranchisement in Pakistani elections. Addressing this issue, a 2023 amendment to the Elections Act added a simple but significant transparency requirement, providing that, on election day, voters must be able to see which polling booth they have been assigned to without entering the polling station.
What does the law say?
Section 79(2A) of the Elections Act 2017, inserted by the 2023 amendment, requires the Presiding Officer, on the day of polling, to post outside the polling station a list showing the numbers of voters assigned to each polling booth. The list is to be displayed outside the building, making it accessible to voters before they enter.
Why does this matter?
Section 79(2A) is a recent addition. Voters arriving at a polling station should look for the posted booth-assignment notice outside the polling station premises. If it is not there, they may request that information from the Presiding Officer or polling staff.
 Source: Elections Act 2017, Section 79(2A), inserted by the Elections (Second Amendment) Act 2023.
This post is part of FAFEN’s series on electoral literacy. Read more of this series here.
