KATHMANDU, JANUARY 16
With 48 days remaining for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March, the Election Commission (EC) has specified the roles, responsibilities, and authority of returning officers.
According to the HoR Member Voting Directive, 2082, returning officers must attend election-related training and collect election materials after verification. They are also required to coordinate with assistant returning officers, polling staff, and security personnel at designated polling centres.
The directive states that if voting cannot be conducted at an assigned polling centre due to security, geographical, or other constraints, an alternative centre must be arranged immediately and reported to the chief election officer.
Returning officers are responsible for ensuring advance distribution of voter identity cards, assigning duties to polling staff and volunteers, maintaining vigilance during voting, enforcing the election code of conduct, and preventing illegal activities.
They must also ensure proper documentation and secure handling of ballot boxes and election materials before and after polling. The EC has further mandated returning officers to exercise powers under the Election (Offenses and Punishment) Act, 2073 BS, to ensure free, fair, and impartial elections.