Highlights:
- Presiding officers will regain full authority inside polling centres, including the power to suspend or restart voting
- Reporters may enter polling rooms, but presiding officer will decide how long they can stay
- The EC has proposed barring fugitive individuals from contesting parliamentary elections, reversing earlier position
- In constituencies with a single candidate, voters can choose "no vote"
- Candidates won't be allowed to hold posts in educational institutions
The Election Commission (EC) has decided to strengthen the authority of presiding officers, making them fully responsible for all activities inside polling centres.
Briefing reporters about proposed amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) on Wednesday, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanuallah said presiding officers previously held all responsibilities within their centres.
However, during the tenure of the fallen government, their authority was reduced. They were required to seek recommendations from law enforcement agencies to suspend or restart voting.
"Now they will be able to make those decisions independently. The presiding officer will be the all in all in the centre and must carry out their duties with full responsibility," he said.
He also added that journalists will be allowed to enter polling rooms, but the duration of their stay will be determined by the presiding officer.
The presiding officers will remain accountable to both the law and to the returning officer and assistant returning officer.
Disqualification of fugitives
The Election Commission has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Law that includes a new provision of disqualifying fugitive individuals from contesting parliamentary elections.
The Election System Reform Commission had previously recommended a similar measure, but at that time the EC opposed it, citing risks of political misuse.
Explaining the change of position, Sanuallah said, "The EC recently held discussions with the National Consensus Commission and was convinced that the provision would strengthen electoral integrity.
"If the provision is abused in the future, it can always be revised again."
Other key amendments to RPO
A total of 46 amendments have been proposed, said EC Sanuallah.
"Candidates will not be allowed to hold any position as chair or member of the governing body of an educational institution in their constituency," the EC said.
While explaining the single candidate scenario, he said, "If only one candidate contests in a constituency, the election will be held with a "no vote" option. If "no vote" secures more support, the election will be rescheduled.
"If the same candidate remains alone in the rescheduled election, they will be declared elected unopposed, without further voting."
Besides, candidates from political alliances will contest using the electoral symbols of their respective political parties, he mentioned.
According to the EC, the option of submitting nomination papers online was only available in local government elections and will not be introduced for national elections this time.
He added that the Election Commission had considered it but later dropped the idea, though it may be adopted in the future.
"The proposals are now at the Ministry of Law. The ministry will place them before the interim government's Advisory Council. If approved, the amendments will be enacted through a presidential ordinance."
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