The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Election to be 93. The voting for the election of the President of the free, equal and secret Republic and of the Members of Parliament and at any Referendum shall be free, equal and by secret ballot. 94. (1) At the election of the President every voter while casting his vote for any candidate may (a) where there are three candidates for election, specify his second preference; and (b) where there are more than three candidates for election, specify his second and third preferences. (2) The candidate, if any, who receives more than one-half of the valid votes cast shall be declared elected as President. (3) Where no candidate is declared elected under paragraph (2) of this Article, the candidate or candidates, other than the candidates who received the highest and second highest number of such votes, shall be eliminated from the contest, and – (a) the second preference of each voter whose vote had been for a candidate eliminated from the contest, shall, if it is for one or the other of the remaining two candidates, be counted as a vote for such candidate and be added to the votes counted in his favour under paragraph (2); and (b) the third preference of each voter referred to in sub-paragraph (a) whose second preference is not counted under that sub-paragraph shall, if it is for one or the other of the remaining two candidates, be counted as a vote for such candidate and be added to the votes counted in his favour Election of the President 93