ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms has finalized proposed amendments to the Election Act of 2017, which will be presented as the Election Act (Amendment) Bill to both houses of Parliament, the National Assembly, and the Senate.
The Ministry of Law and Justice will review the draft bill before it is presented to the cabinet and subsequently tabled in the National Assembly.
The approved amendments include the provision that constituencies should have an equal number of registered voters. The delimitation process will be completed four months before the election schedule is announced. The aim is to maintain an equal number of voters in each constituency, ensuring that the variation does not exceed 5%. Complaints against constituencies can be filed within 30 days.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will publish polling staff details on its website to ensure transparency. The staff will not serve in their tehsils during the elections. Cameras will be installed at polling stations to ensure the secrecy of votes. If a candidate’s nomination is rejected or withdrawn, the fee will be refunded, and candidates will have the right to object to polling station establishments with valid reasons.
The voting facility for overseas Pakistanis will be assigned to the ECP. Political parties will be required to provide the final priority list within three days of the election results. A specific time limit will be implemented for presiding officers to compile results and be held accountable for any delays.
Presiding officers will need to provide valid reasons for any delays in announcing election results and will be required to send a photocopy of the signed result to the returning officer. They will also be equipped with high-speed internet and smartphones.
Electrol reforms proposed Agenda
The proposed Electrol reform also allows polling agents to carry camera phones. CCTV cameras will be installed at each polling station booth. Recordings from these cameras can be used as evidence in cases of complaints. Candidates can obtain videos of any polling station by paying a fee.
The meeting of Electrol Reforms also discussed increasing the limit on election expenses for candidates, with specific ranges for national and provincial seats. Criminal action may be taken against presiding and returning officers for negligence. The punishment for election staff involved in rigging may be increased.
The electoral reforms aim to decide violations of the code of conduct within seven days instead of 15. The final list of polling staff will be uploaded on the Election Commission website. Candidates will have 10 days to challenge the appointment of polling staff in their constituency.
Additionally, the complete voter list will be displayed outside each polling station. And security personnel will be stationed outside the polling stations with permission to enter in emergencies.
