Kathmandu, November 16

The House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly By-election Directive-2019 has empowered returning officers to bar drunken voters from entering into polling centres.

“If a voter comes to polling centre under the influence, the returning officer shall refuse to allow him or her to exercise voting rights,” says Section 96 of the directive. Anyone except security personnel carrying batons, spears, khukuris, rifles, pistols and other home-made weapons will not be allowed in polling centres.

District Administrative Offices have published a notice about the ban on sale and distribution of liquor and carrying weapons in the districts and at local levels, where the by-elections are slated for November 30.

District Administrative Offices have appealed the general public to submit their licensed firearms to them or the nearest police office until the polls are over.

The directive has prohibited voters to take along camera, acid, lighter, and matches to polling centres. It requires voters to switch off their mobile phones prior to entering the polling centre.

The election officer shall not allow entry of an election candidate, his or her representative and others into the vote counting venue, if they are found to be drunk or intoxicated with psychoactive substances.