Multiple Roles of Nepal's Election Commission During Election Season
Giant responsibilities rest on the shoulders of Nepal EC for nascent democracy to blossom
In a professional soccer1 match, there’s a head referee, two assistant sideline referees, a fourth referee and a video referee to conduct match and enforce rules of the game. The head referee takes signal from other referees and is allowed a whistle to interrupt, hand out warnings, allow medics to treat player with injuries, or refreshments. Extra-time duration decided by the referee to make up for non-game interruptions during a 90-minute game time. Match governing rules of football have progressed since the game’s inception. Cameras are now used widely, in cases where human referee judgements fall short or have doubts deciding during players appeal. Even with video cameras around, it is hard to imagine a match without human referees—at least for now.
Players who feel wronged has the right to appeal directly to the head referee. However, there is a limit and if seen to be crossed, referee is bestowed with all the rights to suspend the player for the rest of the game. Decisions are not just limited to on-field players, but also to coaching staff, assistants or reserve players on the sidelines.
Election Commission of a democratic nation can be looked at the same way. Their role very prominent before, during and immediately after election season—sometimes juggling multiple roles.
Every sport loving person knows about home ground advantage. Home team spectators come to cheer as a show of support, so players feel comfortable. Referees have to make sure they do not succumb to the Boos and Aa-haas (Colloquial Nepali Cheers) of spectators influencing their decisions. During election, Government incumbents are seen as the ones with home ground advantage. People they selected as serving heads in different government offices—law and security included. Elements of partiality is suspected to benefit the incumbent leaving fairness of EC’s conduct in question. This makes EC jobs harder and may find itself conveying the message of fairness at every pre-election event.
There are also hooligans/rowdies (Colloquial Nepali: Baagi ) in and out of the stadium to disrupt match proceedings, targeting opponent spectators when results do not go their way. Instead of blaming players, many hardliner hooligans usually fault referees for the loss picking one bad incident as the sole cause of loss. Some even call out referees before the game starts when inevitable loss is staring at them.
This is a reason for massive security before, during and after the game to prevent untoward incidents like these from happening. Sullies the entire game when camaraderie and sports(wo)man spirit are expected by all and sundry.
Election process weighs heavily the next few years determining the trajectory of a nation and Nepal’s constitution duly allows all powers to the EC. It needs the authoritative support using any government branch to fulfil its role which may appear too powerful to some given its seasonal nature. This is why there are EC’s overreaching arguments by the team shown yellow card which may stick to the public.
There are many creative gestures of support by stadium spectators. Some spectators bring in placards, sound horn, foam and display a wave for remote audience’s delight. EC spokesperson is seen to be repeatedly asking candidates to manage election campaigns online as a solution to door-to-door campaign some candidates have been warned for using government’s property (mainly government vehicles), thereby flaunting election rules and code of conduct.
EC’s out with their own brand of various creative marketing techniques online/offline for voters’ awareness and seem to be paving the way for future election conduct. However, the dearth of online campaigns from some career politicians is quite astonishing when the potential to reach every person in their constituency and beyond is already available to everyone. They should have at least prepped grounds to prepare for next elections. This is where majority of their funds should be spent for a chance at victory. Are they managing public elections from a private chat forum, a result of their lack of knowledge, wrong priorities, too much trust on the ancient print media/local Tea Shop influencer over someone with online marketing skills, entrusted Nepali/ese diaspora abroad to run localization campaigns, or something else? We, at NI, will continually monitor the landscape and engage in war-room discussions to find out reasons.
While fairness in elections is EC’s main objective in a referee role, they also have a secondary role to increase voter percentage using past benchmarks. Internally, they already have a baseline to target. Several data points to determine a baseline are voters’ enrollment, first time voters etc. Voter’s list is now finally available to all which has turned uneven landscape fairer for everyone. Earlier, in Nepal, voters list found its way in few hands holding all the information advantage.
To achieve voters’ percentage target, EC has to make sure all anticipated hinderances and objections of election participants are removed. The job made easier if all pertinent Government resources directed in this effort and everyone pulls their socks up to drum up massive public support (cheerleading) for the election process regardless of where the vote goes.2 This is where celebrity’s stardom can be effective staying neutral for democracy's sake, become EC’s brand ambassador free of cost to encourage voters participation asking people to come out in large numbers and vote so fear of Beep-law! 3do not reign in people’s mind, but gradually wanes as Nepalese society progress. After all, Nepal’s nascent democracy will need all the help and contribution to ensure all democratic roots reach deeper, and stalks (foundations) firmer for democracy fruit to blossom in this nation. Election Carnival season is here—lets enjoy it!
Soccer and Football are the same in most countries. In North America, football means American Football played with a Rugby like ball.
Very few of us at NI will not be voting in Nepali elections due to personal reasons. We strongly believe that everyone should go out and vote giving democracy a chance to succeed.
Beep-Love!! 💌 —>