ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday decided to reduce the size of the ballot paper for the general elections 2024 scheduled for February 8.
In a top-level meeting convened to discuss the reprinting of ballot papers in certain constituencies, the ECP said that the decision to reduce the ballot paper was a response to a shortage of special security paper and time constraints.
The electoral watchdog has decided that in areas where a reprint of ballot papers is deemed necessary, the printing process will start only after the completion of the ballot papers printing for all other constituencies across the country.
However, the feasibility of this decision depends on the availability of special security paper and the timely functioning of printing presses.
Election Commission of Pakistan Discuss Challenges
The commission discussed the challenges posed by the need to reprint ballot papers in some constituencies, especially in obtaining the required special security paper and completing the printing process in a timely manner.
In 2018, a total of eight hundred tons were utilized for printing ballot papers.
However, the surge in the number of candidates in the 2024 polls has increased the requirement to a staggering 2400 tons.
The commission said that the availability of security paper for reprinting, coupled with the timely printing process, was posing a major challenge for it.
