Ballot papers to be printed a month before election

The Election Commission has stated that the printing process of ballot papers will start before the final list of candidates is published in the local level election, 2022. The commission has already agreed to supply ballot papers. Chief Commissioner of the Election Commission Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said that the process of printing ballot papers would start a month before the election as there would be a problem in delivering ballot papers to 6,743 wards if any later date is chosen.

The Commission will publish the final list of candidates 17 days before the polling. The commission has stated that there will be a lack of time to put the final list of candidates and election symbols on the ballot paper. The commission will start printing ballot papers about a month before the polling scheduled for May 13. According to the Local Level Election Act, when the Commission publishes the election program, after the publication of the final list of candidates, it should publish it for a maximum period of 15 days.

Election Commission spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel said, "It is not possible to reach the polling station within 30 days after starting the printing from April 30, so the printing of ballot papers will start a month earlier." The commission will start the process of printing ballot papers by estimating the number of candidates in each municipality. Spokesperson Poudel said that ballot papers would be printed with the election symbols by adding some more political parties in the district. However, the work of ballot design has not progressed. Spokesperson Poudel informed that preparations were being made to design the ballot papers from the old designer in the second week of April as no application was received despite the request for information.

In the local level election, 2018, six types of votes were used. The commission has stated that the ballot paper will be designed keeping the ballot paper in mind. When the parties apply for party registration, they have mentioned in which state they will compete. There are only six parties competing with national recognition and their own election symbol. Candidates from the remaining 74 political parties will get independent symbols.

Spokesperson Poudel said, "The company that has been selected to supply the required documents for printing the ballot papers has been given a deadline of March 30." The Commission has approved the proposal of 'Gabionate Environmental Solutions' to supply ballot papers. The commission has approved the proposal of the company supplying paper worth Rs 114 million 62 thousand 200.