Kathmandu. The silence period has begun as part of the House of Representatives election scheduled for Thursday. The election campaign for political parties and candidates ended at midnight today. The Election Commission had given the political parties and candidates time from February 18 to 12 midnight on Monday.

The silence period that lasts from 48 hours before the voting to the conclusion of voting is not allowed to carry out any activities affecting the election, including the campaigning, speeches, assembly, discussions and reviews. During the silence period, people are not allowed to ask for votes, post votes and move around affecting the elections, the EC has stated.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said that the candidacy would not only be scrapped but also barred from taking part in any election process for six years if financial transactions were carried out in a way to influence the election during the silence period.

The EC has made it clear that a zero-tolerance policy would be adopted on activities influencing the elections. The silent period is expected to create an opportunity for voters to vote wisely in a free and fair environment. The silence period is important for the election management bodies to conduct the election in a fearless environment with peace, security and order.

The silent period has been conceptualized to create a situation in which voters can go ‘fresh’ to vote for the right person by deliberating on everyone’s point of view when they are constantly receiving various types of stress, pressure and assurances during the election campaign. It is taken as the time for the candidates and political parties who reach out to the voters with their own visions, plans and programs to review their campaigning with a cool mind and go to vote happily and wait for the election results.

The duration of the silence period will also be very important from the election managerial point of view. The silent period provides an opportunity to manage the election in a peaceful environment by relieving the human resources and security forces conducting elections from all kinds of work.

During this period, the construction of polling stations, the management of the voter line and the law and order situation are assessed. In some countries, the silence period ranges from 24 to 72 hours. The silent period is the time provided for the effective conduct of an election in a fear-free environment and for the voters to reach a decision to vote for the ‘qualified and chosen’ candidate with an informed and open mind.

The Election Commission has stated that the candidates, political parties and individuals concerned should observe special conduct during the silence period. The election code of conduct states that the election symbols and the election publicity materials kept within 300 meters of the polling centres should be removed before the beginning of the silence period.

During the period, election campaign and soliciting votes through social networks including SMS, Facebook and Viber are not permitted. Similarly, no news or information is published or disseminated in such a way that the candidates or political parties are publicized. –