KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has explicitly stipulated the duties, responsibilities and authorities of the returning officers for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections announced for coming March According to the EC-determined ‘HoR Member Voting Directive, 2082’, the returning officers, once appointed, shall participate in the election related training programme and receive the election materials after verifications.

Likewise, the directive has specified an arrangement that the election officers shall receive other election materials related to voters’ ID card and polling centers after verifications.

The returning officers shall reach the designated polling center and coordinate with the assistant returning officers, other staff, and security personnel assigned.

The designated officer shall reach the stipulated site to set up the polling center, and in cases voting cannot take place at the assigned polling center due to security, geographical difficulties, or any other reasons, another polling center needs to be established immediately, the directive stated.

And, this information shall be promptly conveyed to the chief election officer, it is noted.Voter identity cards must be distributed in advance before the polling day. Staff and volunteers assigned to the polling center must be allocated tasks and involved in the voting work.

The directive has arranged that before giving the ballot paper to the voters, signatures must be placed on the ballots, and the polling process must be carried out efficiently with vigilance, monitoring of the polling activities, and informing the election officer about the activities on polling day from time to time.

On voting day, the returning officer must inform various mobile teams, observers, journalists, facilitators, and security personnel coming to the polling center about the voting situation, ensure full compliance with the election code of conduct, prevent any illegal activities, and perform such tasks.

Similarly, before and after voting, they must have the ballot boxes and other election materials properly documented and submit them securely to the election officer.

Likewise, it is the duty of the returning officer to exercise the powers provided under the Election (Offenses and Punishment) Act, 2073 BS, and to ensure that the election is conducted in a free, fair, and independent manner. —