Modified ballots: ‘Vote for none’ option sparks controversy

ECP will forward summary to interim PM, who will then forward it to president for approval.


Irfan Ghauri April 03, 2013
ECP has decided to include a ‘none of the above’ column in the ballot papers for the upcoming elections. DESIGN: EMA ANIS

ISLAMABAD:


In a drastic break with tradition, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to include a ‘none of the above’ column in the ballot papers for the upcoming elections, giving voters for the first time a choice of rejecting all candidates contesting in their respective constituencies.


Talking to reporters, Election Commission Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said the commission in its meeting on Wednesday decided to include this option in the ballot papers to be used for the May 11 general elections.

Last year, the Supreme Court in its verdict on the Workers Party case had asked ECP to contemplate this option, which is in practice in some countries. In some of these countries, a run-off poll is held if over 50% of the voters in any constituency use this option. In others, a run-off poll is held if the ‘none of the above’ votes surpass the number of votes for the highest scoring candidate. The ECP has yet to disclose which mechanism it would adopt in this regard.

To obtain legal cover for this step, the ECP will be forwarding a summary to the interim Prime Minister, who will then forward it to the President for promulgation as an ordinance, Khan added.



It is not yet clear whether President Asif Ali Zardari will issue a formal decree in this regard since the Pakistan Peoples Party has vehemently opposed the move.

When contacted, former information minister and PPP spokesperson Qamar Zaman Kaira said the step was tantamount to discrediting political parties. “We condemn it. ECP should be persuading the voters to take part in voting,” he added.

According to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s official twitter account, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif also rejected the move, saying, ““If someone does not want to vote, why would he leave home & come to the polling station?”

In a statement broadcast on a local TV channel, the PTI’s spokesman also called on the ECP to review its decision, saying that no one will come to the polling stations if they did not intend to vote.

The ECP had earlier changed the format of the nomination papers, including columns seeking candidates’ financial, tax and criminal history, without the formal approval of the President. Then law minister Farooq H Naek had opposed some of the changes and, did not forward the ECP summary to the President. The SC, however, endorsed ECP’s decision to bypass the Presidency and observed that the commission was empowered to do so.

When asked if the President will issue an ordinance this time, presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said, “He issues an ordinance only on the advice of the PM or government. No such advice has been received in the Presidency … so it is premature to comment.”

While former Lahore High Court judge Zahid Hussain Bukhari acknowledged that the ECP was empowered to make changes to the ballot papers, he maintained the commission should have taken the political parties on board before making its decision.

Abid Hassan Minto, whose Workers Party filed the petition on electoral reforms, said the SC had given ECP such directions and the commission was merely implementing court orders.

Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood opposed the idea claiming that once the schedule is announced such changes cannot be made. “You cannot change the rules of the game once the schedule is announced.”

No decision on voting procedure of overseas Pakistanis

A meeting of technical experts from ECP and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) remained inconclusive over taking a decision on adopting a procedure to enable overseas Pakistanis to vote.

NADRA had prepared a software and wanted the ECP to take a decision by April 5, so that it could install the required database system in the 15 countries where a significant number of Pakistanis live.

Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said the attorney general who was supposed to be part of the meeting was not available as he was out of city. Now the meeting will be held again on Tuesday.

Surveillance of returning officers and polling stations

According to Khan, the IT ministry secretary has told the ECP that they can assist the commission in conducting video surveillance of returning officers (ROs).

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2013.

COMMENTS (7)

p r sharma | 10 years ago | Reply

There have been consistent demand in India for such protest vote option and the reason is obvious as all the contesting candidates do not fall to the people's choice. The available choice is for the least bad candidate and not the best representative of the people. in India this option till date is not available . Why the candidates who claim to be the representative are ignoring the people's choice or why a fear on this count?

We feel there should also be a provision for calling back the representative if he fails in his duty. An exercise in this regard may be worked out.

Shahrukh | 10 years ago | Reply

I think it is a good idea, if all candidates are not up to the mark of the voters they can choose to NOTA option.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ