Chief Election Commissioner bats for increased voter education

Kathmandu / Feb 19: Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya emphasized the need to expand election education and voter education for greater participation of citizens in the election.

In a press statement on the occasion of the 9th Election Day here today, Chief Election Commissioner Thapaliya saw urgency of making arrangements that would allow voters enlisted in the voter list in a designated polling station to cast their votes at any polling stations across the country.

The Election Day has been observed every year on 7th of Nepali month of Falgun 7 since 2073 BS, commemorating the General Elections held in Nepal for the first time on the same day in 2015 BS.

Thapaliya, in the press statement, expressed his displeasure over the false narrative being developed by the political parties and their candidates around the cost of electoral system by inflating their election campaign’s expenses. According to him, the election management cost is relatively low.

He also expressed his concern over the questions raised over the integrity of the State mechanism used during the election and viewed that this mechanism should be mobilized by the body managing the election after the election date is announced.

He argued that the success of election would depend on the awareness level among the citizens about their rights and responsibilities, from electing representatives to exercising their rights.

The Chief Election Commissioner also held the belief that legislation regarding election management and operation would be formulated and enforced at the earliest.
He acknowledged that the management of social media and artificial intelligence had emerged as a new challenge during the election.

Likewise, in the press statement, Secretary at the Commission Bharat Mani Subedi affirmed that the Election Commission of Nepal maintained integrity and impartiality throughout the election process.

He, however, called for a review to assess the need for improvement in the procedures and methods in the election management. The slogan for the 9th Election Day is ‘Effectiveness of Election: Participation of General Citizens in the Election Process’. RSS