This article was originally published on July 24, 2018 on Dawn.com

Voting is going to be a first-time experience for many in this election. To keep the process as smooth as possible, here are a few things to keep in mind before you head to the polling station.

Check your polling station

You can only cast your vote in your designated station, so confirm the location beforehand. You can do this by texting your Computerised National Identity Card number (CNIC) number — without hyphens — to 8300.

Go early

Try to reach the polling station as early as possible to avoid a long queue. Polling will be conducted from 8am to 6pm on the July 25.

You will be able to vote after 6pm if you were standing in the queue.

Bring your original CNIC

Even if your CNIC is expired, bring the original. Photocopies are not allowed.

Maintain order in the queue and wait for your turn

As per instructions by the Election Commission Pakistan, pregnant women, transgender persons, elderly persons and persons with disability are to be accommodated first, so please cooperate.

Stay hydrated

Keeping the hot weather in mind, bring a water bottle with you.

Once you're inside the polling booth...

Make sure that you stamp on the name and symbol of the candidate of your choice. Your vote will be invalid if you

• stamp on more than one candidate’s name and symbol
• stamp between the name and symbol of two candidates

After stamping on your ballot paper, fold it in half lengthwise (vertically) and insert it in the ballot box. If you fold the paper in any other way, the ink might spread and make your vote invalid.

In case something goes wrong...

Contact your presiding officer in case of emergency.

For example, if your name has been struck off the voters list, but you haven’t voted by marking a ballot and there is no mark of indelible ink on your thumb, the presiding officer will verify you haven’t voted and then allow you to vote.

Or, your ballot paper is spoiled before you put it in the ballot box. If it tears, gets wet or is stamped incorrectly, return the spoiled paper to the presiding officer and get a new one.

Illustration by Mushba Said

These guidelines have been prepared by Tabeer - Consolidating Democracy in Pakistan.