The Election Commission (EC) has finished printing 80 million ballot papers (40 million under the first-past-the-post and the remaining 40 million under the proportional election) for the upcoming election on November 20 for the House of Representatives and National Assembly.
With over 17.9 million registered voters across the nation, the EC has provided directives to the polling centers to ensure a fair election process.
According to the directive, the returning officer officers have been authorized to deny any voter to exercise their voting rights who comes to the polling station under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Similarly, the EC has made provisions for the family member of a visually-impaired or physically incapacitated person to assist him/her in the voting process in presence of a returning officer.
The directive states “Before granting permission, the returning officer will confirm whether the concerned person is visually impaired and physically incapacitated. A member of the same family should put a mark on the election symbol as told by the visually impaired or person with a disability with the returning officer as a witness.”
The directive also includes policies regarding bearing arms as anyone bearing sharp weapons and arms except the security personnel present will be detained immediately. The directive also requires the returning officers to publish a notice on the ban of the sale and distribution of alcohol effective from the silence period till the completion of voting.
It has also advised the voters to not carry items to the polling stations that may defile the election code of conduct. The items include cameras, mobile phones equipped with cameras, lighter, acid, and other items.
The directive also states “Any person, who obstructs the voting process or instigates others to do so, will be taken into police custody to initiate legal action under the existing Elections (Offences and Punishment) Act.”
The district election officer has the right to cancel the voting on the recommendation of the returning office and announce a date for re-voting at that polling station if they find that the free and inclusive voting process has been altercated in any way. It will be considered as a ‘capture of the polling center.’
