Electoral law amendment: EC ignores most reforms proposed by parties
Ignoring many of the major recommendations put forward by political parties during the recently held talks, the Election Commission has proposed amendments to electoral law.
During the talks with the EC between July 17 and July 31, many political parties recommended staggered national elections as well as the introduction of a proportional representation system.
Several political parties demanded adding a voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) to the Electronic Voting Machines, a method of providing feedback to voters.
The parties suggested deploying "capable" EC officials as returning officers instead of the deputy commissioners, installing CCTV cameras in and outside of all polling centres, and reintroducing "No Vote".
Some had demanded holding polls again in a constituency if a person is wins unopposed.
Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana yesterday told this newspaper that they sent their amendment proposals to the law ministry a few days ago.
Asked why they did not incorporate political parties' major recommendations for reforms, she said they would soon inform all political parties which recommendations were accepted and which ones were not.
She said having a staggered national election and proportional representation system required political decisions.
"If we get the political decision, we will bring changes to the RPO [recommend amendments to the Representation of the People Order] again."
The commission has not made any final decision on EVM use and VPPAT, said Rashida.
"We will make recommendations for changes if we reach a decision that require changes to the RPO."
She said the EC could appoint its officials as returning officers without the need for any changes to the RPO.
Representation of the People Order, 1972 is the law that regulates the election of members to the Jatiya Sangsad.
An election commissioner wishing not to be named said they were mulling whether to install CCTVs in all polling stations or the ones considered vulnerable.
EC'S PROPOSALS
Rashida said they had proposed that the EC be able to cancel an election before gazette notification of the results, provided complaints made against the polls were proved to be true by probes.
She said now the EC cannot say anything after the announcement of the unofficial results.
According to the existing law, if the commission found proof of misconduct and uses of muscle power, it could cancel the candidature of a candidate, EC officials said, adding that the EC now proposed that the candidate in question be not allowed to run in the fresh polls.
The EC also proposed empowering presiding officers to stop voting, if someone or some people legally or illegally enter a polling station and prevent officials from performing their duties. It even recommended five-year imprisonment of the presiding officer concerned for not using the provision properly.
It also recommended a clause that would allow sentencing of anyone who prevents election officials from performing their duties to up to three years in prison.
The EC suggested making it mandatory that all candidates submit income tax returns and that candidates could file nominations regularising defaulted loans and paying pending utility bills a day before.
The commission also proposed that all political parties should have at least 33 percent positions in all its committees designated to women by 2030.
The proposals of the EC would be sent to the cabinet after being vetted by the law ministry. Once okayed by the cabinet, the bill would go to parliament for passing.
POLLS WORK PLAN
The EC is working on its own action plan for holding the 12th parliamentary elections, likely to be held in late December 2023 or early January 2024.
In its draft action plan, it identified some challenges, including some political parties' lack of confidence in the EC, a decision on the use of EVMs, having full control of field administration and police during the polls, and ensuring security of voters and candidates' polling agents, EC sources said.
They said the election commissioners were reviewing the draft and that it could be finalised early next month.
"We are reviewing the recommendations of all political parties in order to prepare a realistic action plan," Election Commissioner Brig Gen Ahsan Habib Khan (retd) told The Daily Star.
Comments