Shillong, Mar 1: The state government, in a notification last week, has made several amendments to the conduct of elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Among these, the age of electors has been reduced from 21 to 18 as per Rule 128 (1) (b) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules 1951.
Rule 133 (2) (a), pertaining to the period of filing nominations, has been amended. Previously, this rule stated that the Governor shall appoint for each constituency a date not later than three weeks after the date of the notification calling upon the constituency to elect a member or members for the nomination of candidates and for the scrutiny of nomination. After the amendment, the period has been reduced to one week.
Candidates also now only need to be proposed by one person instead of two.
On the ballot paper, candidates will no longer be listed in alphabetical order. Instead, following instructions issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) prescribed under Section 38 of the Representation of People Act and Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, those belonging to national- or state-recognised political parties first, followed by registered political parties and then independent candidates.
