EC seeks expanded power to cancel entire balloting in constituency over irregularities

The commission eyes RPO revision to disqualify candidates after polls for false affidavit

The Election Commission headed by AMM Nasir Uddin is going to amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO) rules to empower itself with the authority to annul voting in an entire constituency in the event of irregularities.

The proposed changes also include a provision allowing the revocation of a candidate’s status even after voting, if the candidate is found to have provided false information in their affidavit.

These changes were part of a package of reform proposals finalised at a meeting on Monday, said Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, who briefed media in the evening.

Among other decisions taken at the meeting were: reintroducing the “No” vote option to avoid uncontested victories when there is only a single candidate in a constituency, holding a fresh election instead of a lottery in the event of a tie, and introducing a system to monitor candidates’ election expenditure.

The day began with the ninth commission’s adjourned meeting at the Nirbachan Bhaban, presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner Nasir.

Sanaullah said the finalised set of RPO reform proposals will be sent to the relevant ministry for government approval next week.