ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: Election Commission (EC) has directed all the returning officers (ROs) to prepare the lists of polling stations by Tuesday and submit it to the concerned district returning officers.

Election Commission (EC) sources said the returning officers were required to prepare lists of polling stations for their constituencies and submit the same to the district returning officers for publishing in the official gazette at least 15 days before the polling day as contemplated by section 8 (2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976.

The chief election commissioner (CEC), Irshad Hasan Khan, has also directed the returning officers that complaints regarding setting up of polling stations received from political parties or candidates should be disposed of justly, fairly, equitably and in accordance with law, having regard to the instructions issued by the Election Commission.

The Election Commission has also clarified that while preparing lists of polling stations, the convenience of voters and suitability of buildings may be kept in view. The polling station site should be easily accessible to the voters. Normally a polling station should cater for upto 1,000 voters and the maximum number assigned to a polling station should not exceed 1,200 voters. However, an exception may be made in case of large villages having upto 2,000 voters where only one polling station with three or four booths may be established.

The Election Commission has further clarified that in scarcely populated areas where number of voters of an electoral area is 200/300 and the distance between that electoral area and the nearest suggested polling station is large, a polling station should be established for those 200/300 voters in their own village for their convenience.

The number of polling booths at polling station shall be normally from one to three depending upon the number of voters assigned to a polling station. The polling station shall be set up in a government-owned building such as schools, colleges, offices etc. The buildings of autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies and corporations may also be utilized for the purpose.

The EC has indicated that where no such building is available improvized polling stations shall be set up on a public property provided that no polling station shall be located in any premises, which belong to, or are under the direct or indirect control of, any candidate.

In urban areas, separate polling stations for female voters should be set up only if polling station for male voters can also be accommodated in one and the same building otherwise combined polling stations may be set up with exclusive polling booths for female voters with female polling staff.

In case the polling station building has more than one storey, the polling station should be located on ground floor.

Regarding selection of the building, it has been clarified that in case of selection of building for the polling station, the tribal affiliations and tribal feuds should be kept in view so that voters of a tribe have not to go to the territory of a tribe hostile to them.

Meanwhile, the EC has once again reminded that the last date for receipt of applications for postal ballot papers for general elections to the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies is September 20.

The sources said the facility of postal ballot had been extended only to the persons in government service, members of armed forces, holders of public offices, their wives and such of their children as are registered voters and ordinarily reside with them provided they are stationed at a place other than the place in which their home constituency is situated. Persons detained in prison or held in other custody are also entitled to vote by postal ballot.

The Election Commission has also clarified that last date for polling personnel and police personnel as are posted at a polling station other than one at which they are entitled to cast their vote, has been fixed as September 30. Persons who are appointed to act as presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers and the police personnel who are assigned duties at the polling stations, are advised to apply for postal ballot by the September 30 by which time their appointments as polling personnel are expected to have been finalized.

Applications for postal ballot should be made on the prescribed form with the returning officer of the constituency in which such persons are enrolled as voters.

Application forms for postal ballot can be obtained from any returning officer.

The voters to whom postal ballots are issued will not be entitled to vote in person at the polling stations. The application should be forwarded/endorsed by the office/department of the voter concerned to guard against unauthorized person applying for postal ballot.

The form of application indicates the name of applicant, his/her father’s name, or, in case of female applicant, the name of her father or husband, NIC number in addition to the address and serial number of the elector in the electoral roll, (with part thereof i.e. male, female) along with the name of electoral area where he/she is registered as voter. The number and name of the constituency of the elector has also to be given in the application.

The applications should, in no case, be addressed to the EC Secretariat at Islamabad or the provincial election commissioners.

Returning officers will send a postal ballot paper to an applicant making request for it, together with one large envelop, addressed to himself; one small envelop, and declaration form accompanied by printed instructions for guidance of applicant. —APP