Kathmandu, May 19

Responding to criticism that similar colour of ballot papers and ink stamp used by voters in the first phase of local polls confused many voters, the Election Commission today decided to change the colour of ink stamp.

The move is meant to make vote counting easier and reduce the percentage of invalid votes in the second phase of local polls scheduled for June 14 in Provinces 1, 2, 5, and 7.

In the first phase of local polls, the colour of ballot papers and stamps was blue.

UML polling agent in Kirtipur Municipality Laxmi Kumar Maharjan said the use of similar colour in ballot papers and stamp confused voters, as well as those involved in vote counting. “When we saw stamps right on the election symbol particularly on the symbols of sickle and hammer in a circle, fan and spinning wheel, we had difficulty ascertaining whether it was stamped or not,” he said. He added that the polling agents had to carefully see all the election symbols to ascertain that voters had not stamped more election symbols than they were supposed to.

The EC stated that its officials deployed for vote counting also complained about the use of blue ink in stamp and ballot paper.

“We are learning from experience. The colour of stamp will be changed in the second phase of elections,” said EC’s Information Officer Surya Prasad Aryal.

He said since the poll panel was not in a position to change ballot papers for the second phase of elections, as it had already printed them, it decided to change the colour of the stamp.

According to Aryal, the EC would use either red or maroon ink in the next phase of elections.