Nearly 1.67 Million Ballots Excluded from the Count in General Election 2018

Nearly 1.67 Million Ballots Excluded from the Count in General Election 2018

Islamabad, August 3, 2018: The number of ballot papers excluded from the count in General Elections 2018 surpassed the number of ballots rejected in General Elections 2013. Nearly 1.67 million ballots were excluded from the count in GE-2018. This number may slightly vary after the final consolidated result is released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as the ballots excluded from the count at the polling station level by Presiding Officers are to be reviewed by the Returning Officers during the consolidation proceedings, who can either reject them or count them in favor of a candidate if excluded wrongly.

The increase in the number of ballots excluded from the count was a ubiquitous phenomenon observed in all provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory with nearly 11.7% overall increase. In Islamabad Capital Territory, the number of ballots excluded from the count is more than double the rejected ballots in the region in GE-2013. Around 40% increase in the number of ballots excluded from the count was observed in Balochistan, 30.6 % increase in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), 7% increase in Sindh and 6.6% increase in Punjab. Read More >>

 
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General Election 2018: FAFEN’s Preliminary Election Observation Report

General Election 2018: FAFEN’s Preliminary Election Observation Report

ISLAMABAD, July 27, 2018: More than half of Pakistan’s registered voters went to the polls on July 25, 2018 to mark the second consecutive democratic transition of power, clearing the uncertainties over the future of democracy in the country. The election campaign was long-drawn and competitive, in an extremely polarized political environment punctuated by a few major terrorist attacks. Election Day was better managed, relatively peaceful and free of any major controversy until late night concerns emerged over the transparency of the counting process, and the subsequent slow process of announcement of provisional results prompted some political parties to reject the election results.

Despite issues with the Result Transmission System (RTS) set in place by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to meet the requirements of the new Election Law that was enacted in October 2017, Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) acknowledges significant improvements in the quality of critical electoral processes in the election cycle that inspired greater public confidence. With regard to voter registration, with a particular focus on increasing women enrollment on electoral rolls, and greater diligence in following legally defined principles in delimitation and effective enforcement of campaign rules, the Election Commission appeared to be more assertive in its attempt to deliver an improved quality of election. Read More >>

 
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General Election 2018: Assessment of Polling Stations

General Election 2018: Assessment of Polling Stations

ISLAMABAD, July 24, 2018: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has been conducting periodic assessments of the political environment and the implementation of election-related laws, rules and regulations since January 2018, as part of its multi-phase observation of General Elections (GE) 2018. The purpose of the observation is to contribute to the evolution of an election process that is free, fair, transparent and accountable, in accordance with the requirements laid out in the Elections Act, 2017. FAFEN produces regular updates, information briefs and reports to provide objective, impartial and evidence-based information regarding the quality of electoral and political processes to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), political parties, the media, civil society organizations, and citizens.

This assessment of polling stations comprises analysis of the Final Lists of Polling Stations available on the ECP’s website, and findings by FAFEN observers on the availability of facilities at 10,895 polling stations in sampled electoral areas, perceptions of 1,574 National Assembly (NA) candidates regarding the process of finalizing polling stations and estimations by 12,104 citizens concerning ease of access. As part of its election observation methodology, FAFEN randomly sampled 50 electoral areas in each NA constituency. Read More >>

 
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Senate Session Prorogued after Debate on Political Issues

ISLAMABAD, July 21, 2018: The Senate on Saturday concluded debate on a Motion under Rule 218 regarding political situation in the country ahead of general elections on July 25, observes the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet. Following are key observations of the proceedings of last (2nd) sitting of 280th session requisitioned by…

 
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FAFEN Election Campaign Monitor

ISLAMABAD, July 20, 2018: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) is observing the electoral and political environment in the country since January 2018. Following the announcement of the election program for General Election 2018, FAFEN expanded the scope of its election observation from the district to the constituency level. This Election Campaign Monitor is based on the direct observation of election campaign activities and implementation of Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Contesting Candidates, media monitoring of electoral violence, and citizens’ interviews on electioneering, voter freedom, women’s enjoyment of voting rights and voter inducement.

As part of its election observation methodology, FAFEN randomly sampled 50 electoral areas in each National Assembly (NA) constituency. In each sampled electoral area, FAFEN interviewed three citizens, including women, to gauge citizens interest in participating in political gatherings and gather their views on the political environment, election campaign, and women’s freedom to vote. FAFEN observers also conducted an assessment of campaigning activities and recorded violations of ECP’s Code of Conduct in the sampled electoral areas. Read More >>

 
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Requisitioned Senate Session Discusses Political Situation in Country

ISLAMABAD, July 20, 2018: The Senate held discussion on a Motion under Rule 218 regarding prevailing law and order and political situation in the country on Friday, observes the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet. Following are key observations of the proceedings of first sitting of 280th session requisitioned by the treasury lawmakers:…

 
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Senate Condemns Terror Attack in Mastung

Session Prorogued ISLAMABAD, July 16, 2018: The Upper House on Monday adopted a resolution to condemn the terrorist attack in Mastunq which claimed around 150 lives and left hundreds of people badly injured, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet. Following are key observations of the proceedings during the fifth (last)…

 
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FAFEN to Deploy 19,000 Citizens for Election-Day Observation

ISLAMABAD, July 15, 2018: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), a coalition of over 50 leading civil society organizations, will deploy 19,000 observers across 272 National Assembly consistencies to observe the voting and counting processes at 85 percent of the total polling stations established by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the General Election to be held on July 25, 2018.

Acceding to FAFEN’s request, the ECP has directed the Provincial Election Commissioners (PECs) in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh to issue accreditation cards to FAFEN observers after fulfillment of all codal formalities. FAFEN will deploy 9,884 observers in Punjab, 4,225 in Sindh, 3,549 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (including FATA), 1,117 in Balochistan and 225 in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). FAFEN’s accredited non-partisan and trained citizens will observe the Election-Day environment outside polling stations, incidents of electoral and political violence, pre-polling preparations at the polling stations, voting processes inside the polling booths and stations, ballot, vote counting and ECP forms-filling processes at the polling stations and the barriers to women voting. Read More >>

 
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Senate Discusses Role of Caretaker Govt. in GE-2018 Preparations

ISLAMABAD, July 13, 2018: The Senate on Friday discussed the preparations by caretaker government for holding peaceful as well as free and fair elections on July 25, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet. Following are key observations of the proceedings during the fourth sitting of the 279th session: Members’ Participation…

 
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Senate Takes Up Most of Its Agenda; Discusses Political Issues

ISLAMABAD, July 12, 2018: The Senate on Thursday took up most of its agenda appearing on `Orders of the Day” and debated recent political developments in the country, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet. Following are key observations of the proceedings during the third sitting of the 279th session: Members’…

 
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