For Free, Fair Polls

The nation is set to hold its general elections on November 20. This time around, the Election Commission will hold the federal and provincial elections simultaneously, for which it has made all groundwork so that the polls would be conducted successfully. As the day for the elections, the second since the promulgation of the country’s constitution in 2015, draws near, political parties and their leaders, cadres, workers and supporters are deeply involved in canvassing. Leaders of all hues - from central to local level - are engaged in electioneering and are at present at their home constituencies.

With polls appearing to be a certain event, for which the election commission deserves kudos, for they made all groundwork to hold the elections in a relatively short span - within three months of the declaration of the election date. For preparing and updating voters’ name, printing ballot papers, recruiting temporary security personnel, nominating returning officials and officials to supervise voting, setting aside the number of polling stations and polling booths, the poll authority has burned midnight oil. All this has been done to see the election through without any glitch. Since the fate of the new government in the Centre and Province hinges on the upcoming elections, it is natural for the Election Commission (EC) to make a full-proof preparation as much as possible.

In the meantime, as the electioneering campaigns in all 165 constituencies heat up, candidates, their party workers and supporters are doing their best to influence voters through all possible means. However, the election body has put some restrictions on candidates regarding electioneering and other forms of campaigns which a candidate may follow to earn an edge over rival candidates. Putting a ceiling on election expenses, restrictions on using social media for smearing the rivals, disallowing candidates to use posters and wall-painting are some of the measures the EC has implemented intending to give a level-playing ground to all candidates. The EC has also warned candidates to submit their property records as well as expenses they have made during past elections. Recently, they have asked the candidates who and how they would pay for utilising helicopters to visit their constituencies or to attend election rallies held at several parts. This query from the EC is meant to restrict the candidates from making election related spending within its said limit.

A few days ago, the EC held meaningful discussions with the representatives of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and a few others. The poll authority has stated loud and clear that they must check the tendency to spread false information, rumour and smearing tendencies aimed at the November 20 elections. Following this, the parent company of Facebook, Meta, held an orientation programme for journalists and social media users on posting statuses on elections. This is probably the first time a social media platform has organised such a meeting. All these activities show that the EC is quite determined to make the election a successful one. Since the outcome of the elections depends on how they are held, the EC’s smooth preparations as well as its strong monitoring of the candidates and their workers regarding the latter’s electioneering campaigns will certainly bring out just rewards for the constitutional body in the form of a very successful elections that must be held in a free and fair manner where voters can vote for candidates of their choice in a fearless environment.