CEC issues directions regarding KP local body polls 

Islamabad: Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja has issued directions to the officers regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local body (LB) polls.

It is pertinent to mention here that all is set to hold the first phase of local government elections in 17 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Sunday as million to vote in first phase of LB elections in 17 KP districts. 

According to details, the CEC has issued instructions to the officers regarding the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local body elections. He directed the KP election commissioner to be diligent regarding the local body elections.

Sikandar Sultan Raja also directed that all resources should be utilized during the elections for holding transparent and fair elections. “Take immediate action in case of any violation during the election, no concessions should be made to those who disturb law and order,” he added. 

The chief election commissioner has directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) special secretary to immediately reach Peshawar and personally monitor the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local body elections.

An ECP spokesperson said that the secretary election commission has been directed to visit various polling stations during the voting process tomorrow.

First Phase of KP LB Elections

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the other hand, there are 676 candidates are contesting elections for 65 seats of city mayor and tehsil chairman. PTI is the only party which has fielded candidates for all the 65 seats and no party has been able to field 65 candidates. JUI-F has fielded 59 candidates, ANP is in third position with 55 candidates, while PML-N s 51 candidates will contest elections and 47 candidates of Jamaat-e-Islami will contest polls, while PPP’s 43, 14 candidates of Qaumi Wattan Party (QWP) and 305 independent candidates are hopeful for victory.

The 17 districts where elections will be held include Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Khyber, Mohmand, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Haripur, Buner and Bajaur.

Over 12.668 million registered voters, including 7,015,757 male and 5,653,095 female voters, would decide the fate of 37,752 candidates contesting for different seats, while 4,188 polling stations have been declared sensitive and 2,507 most sensitive.

Stringent security arrangements have been made in this regard, while the polling staff has also been assigned their duties who have been given training.

During the elections, 77,000 policemen and law-enforcement personnel will be deployed outside polling stations and booths for the security of voters.

CCTV cameras have been installed and both of these sensitive locations and it is prohibited to carry weapons or electronic devices in all polling stations.

As many as 689 candidates are in the run for 689 tehsils -- 19,285 for general seats of village, and neighbourhood councils, 3,870 for women, 7,428 for farmers and labour, 6,011 for youth and 293 for minorities.

Complete guide to casting your vote in KP polls: 

If you still have doubts about this, then text your Computerised National Identity Card number (CNIC) number — without hyphens — to 8300.

Here's a complete guide for voters to cast their ballots in the KP polls:

Reach out to the polling officer

Once you have entered the polling station reach out to the polling officer.

Show CNIC to the polling officer

Show your original CNIC to the polling officer who will then check your details in the voter list and cross your name off of it. This process will be observed by each party’s polling agent who will then check the voter’s details in their list.

Thumb impression

The officer will then take your thumb impression on a counterfoil of the ballot paper in front of the your picture.

Presiding officers to issue ballot papers

Once your thumb impression has been taken, you will then be sent to the presiding officer who will issue ballots papers for general and women's councillor seats.

After this, you will be sent to the assistant presiding officer who will issue ballot papers for the youth councillor and farmer and labourer councillor seats.

Subsequently, will go to the third assistant presiding officer who will issue ballots for tehsil council and minority council member seats.

All these assistant presiding officers will write your NIC number, census block code number, serial number and area name on the counterfoil of the ballot paper.

The assistant presiding officers will also stamp the papers and sign them.

These officers will then take your thumb impression on the counterfoil.

Voting for candidate

In the next step, you will be sent towards the voting screen where you can stamp the ballot papers on the candidates of your choice.

Drop ballot paper in the ballot box

After stamping the ballot papers, fold them and drop them in the allotted boxes.

What you need to be mindful of at this stage is that there is no presiding officer, polling agent or candidate present during this process.

Contact polling agent for any queries

However, if you have any queries you may contact any officer or polling agent to address your concerns.

Things to keep in mind

Moreover, the voters must keep in mind the following to ensure that the voting process is smooth.

Respect the priority list

According to ECP, pregnant women, people with disabilities, senior citizens and transgender persons will be given priority while votes are being cast.

So please wait for your turn patiently.

Cellphones, cameras barred inside polling stations

You won't be allowed to carry your mobile phones and cameras inside the polling stations, so please make arrangements beforehand.

Mark your ballot paper clearly

Please make sure you mark your vote clearly and firmly on the symbol of the candidate you support.