Kathmandu, October 10

The Election Commission today said it had starting printing 1.8 million dummy ballot papers of proportional representation category for voter education.

Election Commissioner Narendra Dahal said printing of ballot papers of PR category also started today at Janak Education Material Centre.

The poll panel had also ballot papers of local level elections in the JEMC’s press.

“We have completed printing of dummy ballot papers needed for voter education programme and have started printing ballot papers of the PR category,” said Commissioner Dahal. He said printing of ballot papers of the PR category would be completed by October 26.

The election body has decided to use seven different types of ballot papers for elections under the PR category for both provincial and parliamentary assemblies.

EC Spokesperson Nabaraj Dhabal said 17.4 million ballet papers were needed for the PR elections. He said the EC would print 17.4 million ballot papers for the First-Past-the-Post elections. “We will start printing ballot papers of the FPTP election only after printing PR ballot papers,” said Dhakal.

He said that the EC had also started printing electoral roll at the EC.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav said the election body had expedited preparation for the upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections slated for November 26 and December 7.

Addressing training of chief returning officers and returning officers in Banepa today, CEC Yadav urged the government, political parties and other stakeholders not to take any decision that would affect election schedules.

“We want to request all concerned parties not to engage in any activity that would affect  the elections,” said Yadav. He said the poll panel had given final shape to the election law, rules and directives and expedited polls preparation.