The Election Commission informed the Presidential candidates about the actions that each party candidate and supporters should not do in relation to the Presidential Election from the day of submitting nominations till the end of election day, at the Election Commission office on Thursday (15).
Accordingly, the punishment for committing these illegal acts, wrongdoing, corruption and violation of orders is clearly stated in the Act on the election of the President and the Constitution, and the punishment for committing certain acts that violate these laws are loss of the elected position of the President and loss of civic rights, Election Commission Chairman, R. M. A. L. Rathnayake said.
The actions that are not to be done stated by the Election Commission Chairman:
Prejudicing a candidate:
Under Section 74 of the Act on the Election of the President, from the date of nomination until the end of the polling, campaign leaflets and other materials shall not be displayed or distributed to increase the chances of a candidate being elected or to prejudice another candidate. The attention of all the candidates has been drawn in this regard and the Election Commission has given relevant instructions to the Inspector General of Police to carry out the legal work for this.
Display of advertisements:
Election campaign advertisements or other publicity photographs or such pictorial poll signs, flags and banners related to the Presidential Election may be advertised only subject to specific restrictions on a day of a meeting near the venue or at duly authorised notified polling offices at the venue.
Use of loudspeakers:
Loudspeakers can be used to campaign for candidates during the election period and the loudspeakers can only be used with the proper permission of the Police.
Bribery or Corrupt practices and influence:
Offering something to vote for a candidate is considered bribery. Accordingly, entertainment, bribery and undue influence to obtain votes are treated as acts of corruption. Also, party candidates should not be promoted through religious programmes or any programmes held at sacred religious venues as such promotions come under undue influence.
Public service operation and use of public property:
During the election period, Government Ministries as well as Government Departments, State Corporations, Banks, Boards, Constitutional Institutions, Provincial Councils and Local Government Institutions are also considered as Government Institutions.
It is strictly forbidden to use the property of these Government institutions to promote or prejudice a party candidate in the Presidential Election. Also, any official deprived of political rights will not be able to engage in any political activity other than voting related to the Presidential Election. And even civil servants who have political rights cannot engage in political activities during office hours.
The Election Commission also stated that every Government officer and employee must obey the directives issued by the Election Commission through Gazette No. 23 94/56 dated July 26, 2024.
The Election Commission has announced through letters, radio, television and newspapers that all Government officials must follow these directives.
The post Presidential Election period:
Processions will be banned until a week after the Presidential Election.
It has been stated that the Police may also take action to video record such instances while conducting illegal processions and file cases in the Court.
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