The Election Commission will not have the power to cancel the election to a constituency seat if irregularities occur in one single centre, according to the draft of the amendment to the Representation of the People Order given final approval by the Cabinet.
Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain informed reporters about the matter after the weekly meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presiding over it.
“The Election Commission had proposed to hold the power to cancel an election in case of irregularities at any centre. However, the Cabinet does not agree with the proposal. The commission can stop or cancel the votes of only one or more centres but not the whole seat.”
The Cabinet also decided that a candidate could submit their nomination if any debt in their name was cleared even the day before the filing of the nomination papers.
The secretary said there was not much time left for the general election and that some sections of the Representation of the People Order were being amended before it.
The draft also provides for a sentence of two to seven years for obstructing media workers and observers from entering and working at any polling centre.
