Voter education programme underway in 6,743 wards

Kathmandu. The Election Commission (EC) has extensively launched voter education programmes across the country with the objective of making the election more participatory and reducing the number of invalid votes.

The voter education programme approved by the EC has been forwarded with the objective of informing the general public about the importance of voting rights and the process of voting. According to the EC, one voter education volunteer has been mobilized in 6,743 wards of 753 local levels across the country from February 13 to 17.

According to the Election Commission, volunteers are reaching out to the voters’ settlements and doorsteps to inform the voters about the importance of the election and the voting process through the help of model ballot papers. For the purpose of voter education programme, the EC has already appointed the contact person at the local level as the monitoring of the voter education programme and the orientation programme has also been completed.

Likewise, the EC is making maximum efforts to monitor the people spreading false and misleading information and hate speech in violation of the election code of conduct and to bring to book those involved in illegal activities in collaboration with the regulatory bodies. The Information Integrity Promotion Unit under the Election Information Communication and Coordination Centre established at the Election Commission is fully functional.

A complaint has been lodged against 290 content producers and communicators for producing and disseminating harmful information as per the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063. Similarly, 11 have been sent to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority for action as per the Telecommunication Authority Act, 2052. Likewise, 65 have been sent to the Press Council Nepal for action as per the Press Council Act, 2048 BS and one under the Advertisement (Regulation) Act, 2076 BS.