Election Commission Clarifies Rules on Accepting Voluntary Contributions for Campaigning

Kathmandu. The Election Commission has clarified that candidates and political parties are permitted to receive voluntary contributions from well-wishers for election purposes. Commission Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai stated that collecting support for election campaigning within the boundaries of prevailing law is not an obstacle.

According to Spokesperson Bhattarai, candidates or parties are not allowed to demand donations by specifying a fixed amount from anyone. Highlighting the provision that candidates must open a separate account for election purposes, Spokesperson Bhattarai made it clear that funds collected in that account cannot be spent for personal use.

He said, "You have asked whether one can collect donations in their own account or not. We have a Donation Act. There are provisions for receiving support from well-wishers and supporters for the election, for campaigning. There is the matter of receiving support in the election. In that, candidates or parties cannot specify an amount and demand support from anyone; if someone wishes to give voluntarily, they can receive it in the account opened for election purposes by providing my account number. Since a separate account has been opened for election campaigning with the money collected, one must trust that the collected funds are not for personal use and will not be misused. If misuse occurs, it will certainly be addressed."

The Election Commission has expedited the printing of necessary ballot papers for the election. Spokesperson Bhattarai informed that 8.44 million ballot papers have been printed so far. The Commission stated that 7,137 ballot boxes containing printed ballots have already been packed.

According to Spokesperson Bhattarai, the printing and packing work for the ballot papers required for 32 districts has been fully completed so far. The Commission has stated that the work of printing and managing ballot papers for the remaining districts is currently underway at a war footing. -News Agency Nepal