The Election Commission (EC) will reintroduce the “No” vote option for constituencies that will have only one candidate, aiming to end the practice of uncontested public representatives. Under the proposed amendment to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), a set of electoral rules, sole candidates must compete against a “No” vote, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said on Monday. If “No” wins, the seat will remain vacant until a new poll is held, he said after a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. The “No” vote, once available in all constituencies in 2008, was later abolished. The EC aims to send the amendments to the government for approval next week, with an ordinance to follow if endorsed.
