KATHMANDU, Nov 16: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya has urged one and all to maintain secrecy of the voting and ballot papers in the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and provincial assembly scheduled for November 20.
The CEC said that the voters’ right to elect their representatives through secret voting should be ensured since it was their sovereign right to cast votes without fear, terror, threat, obstruction and any kind of influence.
Ballot papers printed for 36 districts
Thapaliya further said that fear, terror, threat or obstruction in the elections and challenge to the voters’ secrecy for the voting process is deemed punishable as per the election code of conduct, Election (Offenses and Punishment) Act and HoR and Provincial Assembly Members Election, 2079 (Voting Guidelines).
CEC Thapaliya has reminded that such a vote would not be counted and the voting officers are required to submit the details of such ballot papers while keeping such ballot papers in separate envelopes if such ballot papers were not dropped in the ballot boxes.
Likewise, the CEC urged one and all not to cast a vote in another's name, avoid repeated voting and not to drop any substance that destroys or damages the ballot papers.
(RSS)
