KATHMANDU: With 48 days remaining until the House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5, public interest has grown around the roles and responsibilities of polling officers who will be deployed at polling stations across the country.
The Election Commission has clearly outlined these duties, responsibilities and powers. According to the Voting Guidelines for Members of the House of Representatives, 2082, polling officers are required to participate in election-related training programs after their appointment and to verify and receive all necessary election materials.
The guidelines also mandate polling officers to verify and receive voter identity cards and other polling station-related materials. They must coordinate closely with assistant polling officers, assigned staff, volunteers and security personnel, and ensure timely arrival at the designated polling station.
Polling officers are responsible for setting up polling stations on time. In cases where voting cannot be conducted at the designated location due to security concerns, geographical challenges or other valid reasons, and an alternative polling station must be established, the matter must be reported immediately to the election officer.
Voter identity cards must be distributed to polling stations prior to polling day. Polling officers are also responsible for assigning duties to staff and volunteers and ensuring smooth coordination throughout the voting process.
The guidelines require polling officers to sign ballot papers before issuing them to voters, continuously monitor voting to ensure it proceeds in an orderly and effective manner, and regularly update the election officer on polling-day activities.
Polling officers must also brief mobile monitoring teams, observers, journalists, monitors and security personnel visiting polling stations about the voting situation. Ensuring full compliance with the election code of conduct and preventing any illegal activities fall under their core responsibilities.
Before and after voting, polling officers must securely hand over sealed ballot boxes and all election materials to the election officer against proper receipts.
The directive further states that polling officers are empowered to exercise authority under the Election (Offences and Punishments) Act, 2073 BS and are duty-bound to conduct the election in a fair, impartial and independent manner.
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