EC directs smoke-free polling stations for February 12 vote

The Election Commission (EC) has issued a stringent directive ordering all polling stations designated for the upcoming elections on February 12 to be maintained as strictly smoke-free zones. This mandate is part of the Commission’s broader effort to ensure a hygienic, comfortable, and disciplined environment for voters, election officials, and security personnel involved in the crucial electoral process.

The EC has instructed the officials concerned, including Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, and Presiding Officers, to take immediate and appropriate measures to implement the ban. The directive specifies that the consumption of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and all other smoking products is strictly prohibited within the premises of the polling centers and the immediate surrounding areas where voter queues are formed.

According to EC sources, the move is rooted in public health concerns and the necessity of upholding established national laws regulating tobacco use in public places. The Commission emphasized the need to protect non-smokers—particularly the elderly and those with respiratory issues—from secondhand smoke exposure while exercising their democratic right.

Enforcement of the new rule will fall heavily on the Presiding Officers, who are required to prominently display notices declaring the polling stations as non-smoking areas. These officers are mandated to coordinate closely with the security detail—police and auxiliary forces stationed at the centers—to ensure absolute compliance throughout the voting period, which typically runs from morning until late afternoon.

Any individual found violating the smoke-free order will face immediate intervention from election staff or security personnel and may be removed from the premises to maintain the sanctity and order of the polling station. The EC stressed that maintaining discipline is paramount for the integrity of the February 12 polls, and this measure is designed to minimize potential disruptions while safeguarding the well-being of all participants.

The instruction is one of several operational guidelines released by the Commission aimed at facilitating a transparent and trouble-free election day.