Local election preparations: commissioner urges cutting invalid votes as parties step up campaigns

Chief Election Commissioner Man Bahadur Karki has said political parties need to become active to reduce invalid votes and increase voter turnout in the upcoming election.

While receiving a memorandum from the Ujyalo Nepal Party at the Commission on Wednesday, he stressed that parties should run programs teaching voters to mark ballots correctly. He said the wider the citizen participation, the more beautiful democracy becomes, and pointed to the role of state bodies and stakeholders in voter awareness as well.

He said the Commission is active on securing voting rights for Nepalis abroad, and that deep discussion among parties is needed on party-free local elections. He added that the Commission would work only within the bounds of the constitution and the law.

The term of local elected representatives ends on Baishakh 30, 2084, and that of Provincial Assembly members on Mangsir 4, 2084.

The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party has opened applications in its candidate club for rural municipalities since Bhadau and for municipalities since Asoj, with no deadline set for registration. According to General Secretary Bipin Acharya, more applications have come in for the posts of chief and chairperson, but fewer for ward member. The party has devised a candidate-selection method based on primary elections, a leadership academy, and inclusiveness, among other criteria. Co-General Secretary Nisha Dangi said the party has already begun its own style of election preparations.

Among other parties, the CPN will continue its awareness campaign until Mangsir 25, Congress is preparing to finalize preliminary candidates by Poush-Magh, and the UML is engaged in ward and municipality conventions.