EC bars ‘unauthorised outsiders’ from constituencies from Feb 10-13

The restriction on movement will remain in place from 7:30am on Feb 10 to 4:30pm on Feb 13

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that no one, aside from voters and authorised personnel, will be allowed to stay in parliamentary constituencies from the morning of Feb 10 to the afternoon of the day after the general election and referendum vote.

The EC issued a notice in this regard on Monday, stating that it had taken the decision with the aim of conducting the election and referendum vote in a manner that was free of influence, impartial, and peaceful.

According to the EC decision, no person -- other than persons involved in the election process, persons permitted by the EC and residents or voters of the concerned constituency -- will be allowed to travel to other constituencies from 48 hours before the start of voting to 24 hours after the end of voting, i.e. from 7:30 am on Feb 10 to 4:30pm on Feb 13, 2026.

The 13th national parliamentary election and referendum is to be held on Feb 12. Candidates are in the final stages of campaigning. According to the EC’s schedule, campaigning will close at 7:30am on Tuesday.