KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 6
The House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly (Voting) Directive issued by the Election Commission has authorised returning officers to deny voters who have consumed alcohol entry into the polling centre.
As per the directive, if a voter comes to the polling centre under the influence, the returning officer should refuse to allow him/her to exercise voting rights. It also stipulates the provision allowing a member of the same family to assist a visually impaired or physically incapacitated person, who is unable to identify the election symbol he/she intends to vote for. In the case of such a person, a member of his/her same family is required to take permission from the returning officer to lead him/her to the polling booth and caste vote.
In response to the request on behalf of the visually impaired or person with a disability, the returning officer will allow a member of the same family to assist him/her to cast vote.
"Before granting permission, the returning officer will confirm whether the concerned person is visually impaired and physically incapacitated. A member of the same family should put a mark on the election symbol as told by the visually impaired or person with a disability with the returning officer as a witness," it says.
According to the directive, anyone except security personnel brandishing batons, spears, khukuris, rifles, pistols and other home-made weapons will be arrested by security personnel immediately. The directive requires the returning officers concerned to publish a notice regarding the ban on sale and distribution of liquor with effect from the silence period to the completion of voting.
It also does not allow voters to carry camera, mobile phone equipped with camera, acid, lighter, and matches to the polling centre.
"Any person, who obstructs the voting process or instigates others to do so, will be taken into police custody to initiate legal action under the existing Elections (Offences and Punishment) Act," the directive says. If any person or group stops voters on their way to polling centre on the suspicion that they are going to vote for any candidate and allows passage only to supporters of a candidate, it will be considered a capture of the polling centre.
In such a situation, the district election officer may cancel such voting on the recommendation of the returning officer and announce date for re-voting in that polling centre.
Over 17.9 million people are eligible to cast their vote in the twin election.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 7, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
