A WEB

Always Taking Precautions (Election Commission of Pakistan)

In 2021, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) administered several by-elections. Strictly adhering to the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the Election Commission of Pakistan took precautions to ensure the safety of voters, candidates, and other election stakeholders. To share more details about how ECP managed elections during the covid-19 pandemic, the Secretariat had a special interview with them. Read the full story here!

▶Question: Which election(s) were held in 2021 in Pakistan?

▶Answer: In Pakistan, the Election Commission is a constitutional entity, comprising one Chief Election Commissioner and four members of the Election Commission. One of the Election Commission’s responsibilities includes organizing and holding general elections to the National Assembly, Provincial Assemblies, and local government bodies. The members of the National Assembly and four Provincial Assemblies are directly elected in single-member constituencies under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system. 

The ECP conducted by-elections in the following National and Provincial Assemblies constituencies in 2021 despite COVID-19 risks. The seats had become vacant due to the deaths of incumbent members:

 1. NA-45 Kurram-I (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 19th Feb 2021

 2. NA-75 Sialkot-IV (Punjab)        10th Apr 2021

 3. NA-221 Tharparkar-I (Sindh)      21 Feb 2021

 4. PP-51 Gujranwala-I (Punjab)    19 Feb 2021   

 5. PS-52 Umerkot-II (Sindh)      18 Jan 2021

 6. PS-88 Malir-II (Sindh)    16 Feb 2021

 7. PK-63 Nowshera-III (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) 19 Feb 2021

 8. PB-20 Pishin-III (Balochistan)    16 Feb 2021

The ECP is also responsible for conducting elections of the Senate. Senate elections are held under the Proportional Representation System employing a single transferable vote. The ECP conducted Senate elections across Pakistan amid the COVID-19 pandemic as per the detail given below: 

▶Question: How did COVID-19 change the election process and election management? 

▶Answer: The elections were strictly managed by the law of Pakistan. However, the ECP took several measures, based on the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), for conducting elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic in such a manner so as to strike a balance between the right to life and the right to vote: 

 A. Provincial and district governments were asked to render full support to the Returning Officers in implementation of SOPs during different phases of elections such as filing of nominations, training of polling staff, election and voter education campaigns, voting on poll day and compilation of results 

 B. The Returning Officers were advised to follow social distancing protocols while receiving the nomination papers from candidates and to ensure no overcrowding. The use of hand sanitizers and face masks were also advised.

 C. On the poll day, polling officers deputed to polling stations for voting and subsequent vote counting were given instructions to follow all the relevant SOPs to minimize the risk of transmission of the virus. They were provided with facemasks, non-contact infrared thermometers, and sanitizers, etc. The polling staff and security officials also guided voters to maintain social distance when queuing and adhere to the relevant SOPs.  

 D. These by-elections saw a major increase in voter turnout.

The A-WEB Secretariat appreciates the Election Commission of Pakistan for sharing the special measures they have taken under the pandemic situation. The Secretariat will continue to conduct these interviews so that A-WEB members may share what they have introduced to cope with the pandemic in election management.