EC yet to decide on types of ballot papers

Kathmandu, October 23

The Election Commission, which was expected to take a decision on whether to print only one type of ballot paper for provincial and parliamentary first-past-the-post elections or separate ballot papers, did not do so.

As per the EC calendar, the polls panel will start printing FPTP ballot papers from Thursday. As of today, the EC has planned to print one type of ballot paper for both provincial and parliamentary FPTP elections.

Election Commissioner Narendra Dahal said the poll panel would take an appropriate decision on the matter at an appropriate time.

The Supreme Court had, on October 18, passed an order in response to a writ petition filed by Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal leader Sarvendranath Shukla saying that it expected the EC to seriously consider printing separate ballot papers for provincial and parliamentary FPTP elections scheduled for November 26 and December 7.

The SC had refused to issue an interim order on the case stating that the EC had already printed PR ballot papers.

Dahal said they had received a report from its task force created to study the possibility of printing separate ballot papers for provincial and parliamentary elections and the EC would print separate ballot papers if possible. “We have made all the preparations for both FPTP and PR elections and we will take a call at an appropriate time,” he added. Dahal said EC had already  analysed how much resources and how many employees and security personnel it would need to hold the upcoming elections.

“Printing separate ballot papers will change all the plans, including the number of ballot boxes. We will have to add employees and security personnel as well as polling centres. We will consider all these things before we take a call on the issue,” he added.

Constitutional expert Bhimarjun Acharya said the EC had to print separate ballot papers for provincial and parliamentary elections as they were different political bodies, but the SC order did not have a binding effect on the polls panel. “If the EC does not print separate ballot papers, it will be against principle and it can also create problems during vote counting,” he added.

General Secretary of Nepal Bar Association Khamma Bahadur Khati also said that the Supreme Court’s order did not have binding effect on the EC as the order told the polls panel to consider seriously about printing separate ballot papers for provincial and parliamentary FPTP elections.

“The SC issues directive orders to different bodies from time to time. Sometimes the relevant bodies comply with these orders and sometimes they do not comply with them for a variety of reasons. Directive orders do not have binding effect,” he added.

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