ECP completes printing of ballot papers for General Election 2024.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has successfully wrapped up the printing of ballot papers for all constituencies across the nation, marking a crucial milestone in the lead-up to the highly anticipated General Election of 2024.
As of Friday, distribution has been finalized in all but 31 districts, with special attention given to Balochistan, where certain areas required airborne delivery due to security concerns and adverse weather conditions.
Commencing on January 14, the meticulous printing process concluded on February 2, as per the ECP’s announcement in Islamabad.
Also read: COAS Asim Munir emphasis on Balochistan’s socio-economic development
Notably, the Supreme Court’s directive prompted the reprinting of ballot papers for 11 National Assembly and 5 Provincial Assembly constituencies, with the originals slated for secure destruction.
Distinguishing between National and Provincial Assembly ballots, the former are identifiable by their green hue, while the latter are printed on white paper. This meticulous attention to detail underscores the ECP’s commitment to ensuring a transparent and fair electoral process.
In a press briefing, ECP officials disclosed that a staggering 260 million ballot papers were printed this cycle, reflecting a substantial 54.74% surge in the number of candidates compared to the 2018 elections.
Managing this influx was no small feat, especially with a 195% increase in demand for special paper. Impressively, the ECP not only met but effectively reduced the required paper quantity from 2400 tonnes to 2177 tonnes.
The breakdown of the printed ballot papers reveals a strategic distribution, encompassing 5% single-column, 50% double-column, 30% three-column, 11.15% four-column, and 2.4% five-column formats.
These formats are designed to accommodate the diverse array of candidates vying for political office in the upcoming polls scheduled for February 8.
As ECP completes printing of ballot papers for General Election 2024, the election landscape is expected to reach its zenith on February 6 at 12 pm when the official campaign period concludes.
