UZ poll may see more invalid ballots as symbols set in two columns

20 January 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Nilphamari

Model of ballot papers, published by the Election Commission, were displayed in Nilphamari as the country goes for upazila election tomorrow.Photo: STAR

Candidates for tomorrow's upazila election as well as voters have expressed fear that a large number of votes might be cancelled due to 'different arrangement' of election symbols on ballot papers for three different posts. The three ballot papers to be used in the upazila polls contain different election symbols in two columns but candidates' names are not printed there. So there is possibility that the ink of the voting seal would leave an impression on another symbol on the ballot paper when one folds it after casting vote. Besides, voters will be in a hurry to put seals on three ballot papers as polling centres and booths have remained the same as it was in the December 29 parliament election. For the recently concluded parliament election, candidates' names were printed beside the corresponding polls symbols in same column of the ballot papers. In the upazila parishad election, each voter will be given three ballot papers -- the ballot papers printed on white paper will be used for upazila chairman post, ballot paper on rosy coloured ballots for vice-chairman post and green coloured ballot papers for female vice-chairman post, election office sources said. In each ballot paper ten, 14 or 18 election symbols (it varies in different upazilas) are arranged in two columns half of the symbols in the left column and the others in the right column. However, in most cases, the number of symbols is more then the number of candidates. Besides, the names of the candidates are not printed with the corresponding symbols. Several candidates said voters may be confused to see ballot papers containing more election symbols than the number of candidates and not having the names of candidates alongside their election symbol. When a voter will vertically fold the ballot paper after putting seal on a chosen symbol the ink of the seal may leave impression on the symbol of the other column of the same line, said a few voters talking to this correspondent. If a voter folds the ballot paper horizontally, the ink may touch a symbol on the upper or lower portion, they said. In both cases, the presiding officers will have no way but to cancel the vote. Forhanul Haque, contesting in Sadar upazila for the chairman post, apprehended that a good number of votes, especially cast by illiterate voters, may be ruined if the ballot papers are not folded in the correct way after putting voting seal ink (impression). District Election Office sources said there were 459 vote centres and 2,539 polling booths in Nilphamari district for the parliament election. The number of vote centres and polling booths has remained the same for the upazila parishad election although the voters have to cast votes in three ballot papers this time. The district chapter general secretary of SUJAN (Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik -- citizens for good governance), Anjarul Islam Jewel said the Election Commission should conduct prior awareness campaign among the voters to inform them about casting vote correctly and carefully. Nilphamari District Election Officer Sakander Ali said they had arranged training for candidates, presiding officers, poling officers and polling agents about the voting procedures. When contacted, District Information Officer Shahjahan Ali said they are making publicity about the code of conduct for the candidates and inspiring the voters to elect honest men. “We are yet to get instruction from the higher authority about making the voters aware for casting votes correctly,” he added. In the December 29 parliamentary election, there was only one kind of ballot paper printed with candidates' names along with concerned election symbols in single column. That time the number of cancelled votes in the district stood at 9961, which constitutes 1.09 per cent of 9,11,930 cast votes.