EC approves sample of PR ballot for upcoming elections

Published On: September 23, 2017 08:14 PM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, Sept 23: The Election Commission (EC) has approved the model ballot paper towards the Proportional Representation system to be used in the upcoming elections to the members of House of Representatives and State Assemblies. The elections have been scheduled to be held in two rounds later this year- November 26 and December 7. 

As per the decision of EC meeting held Friday, the upper portion of the ballot shall have election symbols of political parties taking part in the elections to the House of Representatives. 

Similarly, the lower section of the same ballot paper shall have the election symbols of political parties confirmed to compete in the election of State Assemblies under the PR seats. 

EC Spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal said voters' convenience was considered while determining the sample of the ballot paper. A single ballot paper shall be used in the both elections under the PR system. The upper half is for the House of Representatives election and the lower half for the State Assemblies. 

A total of 110 members shall be elected to the House of Representatives and 220 for the State Assemblies under this electoral system. 

The order of position of election symbols shall be as determined in the respective election acts. It means the order will be determined on the basis of PR votes that political parties received in the second Constituent Assembly (CA) election. In case of the new political parties or those not taking part in the previous CA elections, it will be done on the basis of the registration (for the purpose of election) serial number at the EC. 

As per the schedule of the election of House of Representatives and State Assembly passed by the EC, the printing of ballot papers for the proportional election would begin soon. 

However, the printing of the ballot papers for the first past the post (FPTP) category in the election of House of Representatives and of State Assembly will begin after allotting the election symbols to the parties and the independents. The number of the ballot papers would be determined on the basis of the number of election candidates in the respective constituency. RSS


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