Election campaign comes to end tonight

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan goes to historic election this week as it looks forward to second-ever transfer of power – a democratic dividend that has long eluded the country. 

With the 2018 general elections scheduled on July 25 (Wednesday), electioneering that spanned more than three weeks, will come to an end at midnight tonight.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has warned that action will be taken against those candidates found canvassing after 12:00 am tonight.

Electioneering for general elections on electronic and print media will also come to an end with a ban on rallies or corner meetings across the country.

For the upcoming elections, a number of 220 million ballot papers have been printed. The ballot paper for the National Assembly is green whereas white colored paper shall be used for the Provincial Assembly.

According to the electoral body the ballot papers are specially designed this time bearing significant security features.

The polling process will start at 8:00 am on Wednesday.

All voters need to carry with them their original National Identity Card. The officers will verify the identification of a voter before checking his/her name in the voting list.

The voter will then be given a serial number and will be asked to imprint their thumbprint next to their name, after which the officer will cross out the voter’s name from the list.

The officer will then mark the voter’s thumb with indelible Ink.

An assistant Presiding Officer will issue the voter two ballot papers for the national and provincial assemblies respectively after signing at the back of both the sheets.

The voters standing behind a voting screen will be able to stamp on the name of their preferred candidates.

The National Assembly paper will then be inserted into the box with the green lid.

The provincial assembly paper will be inserted in the box with the white lid.

The polling process will end at 6:00 pm.

Although the polling stations will be closed by 6:00 pm, any voter that has entered the polling station before 6:00 pm will still be allowed to cast his or her vote.