Do's and Don'ts for Election Silence Period

The silence period for the upcoming parliamentary elections will come into effect from midnight today (March 2), as the nation gears up for the vote scheduled for Thursday. The 48-hour silence period will remain in place until voting concludes.

Ahead of the silence period, the Press Council Nepal organized an interaction program on 'Silence Period and Media' in the capital on Sunday, bringing together election officials, media experts, and journalists to discuss the do's and don'ts for media houses during this sensitive phase.

Addressing the program, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari expressed concern over the excessive use of social media for misinformation and propaganda, and urged the media to play a proactive role in curbing false narratives.

"The Election Commission expects the media to help prevent misinformation," Bhandari said. "Campaign materials and party-related content that were broadcast before the silence period should not be shared or re-circulated during this time."

He further noted that the media has the responsibility to thoroughly analyze party manifestos and policies now that the silence period is about to begin, shifting focus from campaign coverage to voter education and information from the Election Commission.

Press Council Nepal Chair Dr. Kumar Sharma Acharya stressed that the media's responsibility automatically increases during the silence period, as it is an extremely sensitive time. He called on news outlets to exercise greater caution in their reporting.

Federation of Nepali Journalists President Nirmala Sharma urged the media to remain vigilant about potential geopolitical influences that could impact the election through digital platforms.

Council member Nakul Aryal, responding to queries, clarified that the Council is monitoring all election-related content as per its duties and responsibilities, with 24-hour self-monitoring, complaint systems, and active hotline numbers in place.

Silence Period Regulations

According to the election code of conduct, once the silence period begins at midnight, candidates and political parties are prohibited from campaigning, holding rallies, or discussions. Any activity by candidates violating the financial provisions of the code during this period could lead to disqualification and a six-year ban from contesting elections.

All election symbols and promotional materials placed within 300 meters of polling stations must be removed before the silence period begins. Campaigning through SMS, social media platforms, and messaging apps like Viber is strictly prohibited. Media outlets are also barred from publishing or broadcasting any news or information that could be construed as promoting a particular candidate or party.

Election at a Glance

A total of 65 political parties are contesting the election under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system for 165 parliamentary seats, while 110 seats will be filled through the proportional representation system.

In the FPTP category, 3,406 candidates—3,017 men, 388 women, and one other—are in the fray. For proportional representation, 3,135 candidates—1,363 men and 1,772 women—are competing.

According to the Election Commission, there are 1,89,03,689 eligible voters, including 96,63,358 men, 92,40,131 women, and 200 others, with an additional 1,86,142 temporary voters registered for this election. – With inputs from RSS