A puzzling electoral process

Data on LG dept’s website says each voter will get seven ballots

PESHAWAR:

With 15 days left for local government elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, voters and candidates have voiced reservations about the electoral process. As electioneering nears completion, many of them claim they find the voting process confusing as they say the government has failed to guide them.

The LG elections scheduled for May 30 vary vastly from the previous LG polls. Under the new arrangement, union councils have been divided into village and neighbourhood councils, while elections at the tehsil and district level will be held based on wards. In the absence of clear and specific information, voters and candidates are faced with countless challenges.

Lacking information

Rahamdad Khan, father of Inam Khan, a candidate who is contesting in the polls, told The Express Tribune his son enjoys widespread support as voters have responded well to his electoral campaign. However, “So far, we have limited awareness about the balloting process,” he said. “We are not even aware of the colour of ballot papers.”



According to Inam, the most he can do is ask his supporters to put a stamp over the electoral symbol he has been allotted by the election commission. “I don’t know about the colour of any ballot,” he said.

Inam said teachers who have been assigned duties for the day of the election have been given training. “But I can’t say anything about what voters would be expected to do.

Riaz Khan, who is eagerly looking forward to cast his vote, said he is confused about the balloting process even though he studied the LG election process in school. “If an educated person can find the process confusing, it is bound to create problems for those who are illiterate,” he added.

According to Riaz, the polling staff should try to facilitate voters on May 30 and ensure they are able to exercise their democratic right.

Colour bind

The government has made some efforts to clarify the confusion. The K-P Local Government department’s website states there will be seven ballots issued to a single voter.

The ballot for a general councilor seat for village or neighborhood councils will be white; the colour of the ballot will be pink for women’s seats; the ballot for the youth councillor seat will be yellow while the ballot for the minority and tehsil councillor seats will be brown and grey respectively. Moreover, the ballot for the district councillor seat will be orange.

ECP Deputy Director in Peshawar, Khushal Zada told The Express Tribune they had suggested the elections should take place on a phase-wise basis. However, the provincial government insisted on holding the polls on a single day. “This will be a major challenge for the commission,” he added.

According to Khushal, the commission is aware that many voters are likely to find voting quite confusing. “With the help of NGOs and the government, we will plan an awareness campaign,” he said.

However, an official privy to the matter told The Express Tribune the LG ministry was not in a position to take any serious steps to generate awareness.

Khushal also pointed out it would be difficult for most people to manage seven ballots of various colours.

“We have appointed three assistant presiding officers (APOs) and a polling officer at each booth to ensure efficiency,” he said. “So far, we predict every person who goes to cast their vote will take between 10 to 15 minutes.”

According to Khushal, polling will begin at 8am and will end at 5pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2015.