KARACHI: The much-awaited general elections in Pakistan are going to take place tomorrow, let’s have an overview about the step-by-step guideline to cast your vote and exercise your constitutional right.

1. The first step is to find out the polling station where you will cast your vote and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s SMS service has made it more convenient for the voter.
2. Text your Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) number to 8300 and make sure to type all the digits without dashes or dashes. Upon sending your CNIC number, you will receive a block code, serial number, and name of the region.
3. Bringing your original CNIC to the polling place is most important part of the voting process.
4. Moreover, taking mobile phone inside the polling booth is strictly prohibited.

However, there is no restriction on taking picture of your thumb with sign of casted vote after leaving the polling booth premises. If you are aiming to avoid the long queue, try to arrive early as the voting process will start at 8:00 am and will continue till 6:00 pm.

Once your turn comes, the presiding officer will verify your name and electoral number are listed. Then the presiding officer will mark it off the list to let you know that you have been given two ballots. It is important to mention here that the presiding officer’s signature and stamp on the back of both papers is compulsory as your vote won’t be accepted without his stamp.

Two ballots will be given to you; white voting paper is for the provincial parliament; the green ballot paper is for the national assembly. Then the presiding officer will imprint your thumb impression on the electoral rolls using a unique, non-erasable ink. This will be done to show that you’ve casted your vote. This part of ballot paper will be kept by the presiding officers for record.

When the presiding officer step completes then you’ll be taken to the polling place. It’s is your right to verify that there is no one else inside, close to you when you are there and make sure the ink is dry prior to folding the ballot papers after stamping both of them. Go towards the voting booths and insert the green ballot paper into the green box and the white ballot paper into the white box.

You have successfully exercised your right to vote.