EC to arrange tarpaulins in voting centres

The Election Commission (EC) has shown its promptness to protect the election materials and conduct the voting process unhindered even if rain occurred on May 13, the election day for local-level polls.

The EC has directed all the local levels through the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration to ensure the provision of tarpaulins or plastic sheets in the polling centers to ward off the rain from 7:00 am to until the voting is completed on May 13. The local levels should make sure availability of such materials by coordinating with the returning officer, polling officer, and chief district officer concerned.

A spokesperson at the EC Shaligram Sharma Poudel said a decision has been made to direct all the chief district officers through the Home Ministry for needed coordination and facilitation for the supply of those materials.

Likewise, the EC has decided to suspend the operation of all means of transportation on the voting day to conduct the poll in a free, fair, transparent, and fearless manner.  

Similarly, the EC has made it clear that ambulances, vehicles carrying drinking water and milk, fire engines, telecommunications and cable services, mortuary vehicles, and vehicles of diplomatic missions as well as other essential services are exempted from the requirement of receiving approval to operate on the election day.

The EC has also decided to strictly prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol from Tuesday midnight until the completion of the voting.