As aspiring National Council candidates hit the campaign trail, the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) is urging both candidates and the public to exercise caution and responsibility while using social media platforms.
Speaking during a live interview with BBS news, the Head of ECB’s Department of Civic and Electoral Training, Phub Dorji, said the commission would like to earnestly request everyone to refrain from using social media to carry out activities or post content that may adversely affect or unduly benefit the electoral prospects of a candidate.
Phub Dorji admitted that monitoring the use of social media by the public would be a daunting job.
“We cannot deprive people of their phones. We cannot tell people not to use their phones, or ask them to hand in their mobile phones so that we can check what they have been up to. Therefore, all we can say or do is to plead with the public to use social media responsibly,” he said.
However, he warned that in extreme cases, irresponsible use of social media would result in dire consequences.
“There have been media reports about people being taken to court and penalized over misuse of social media. The same would happen if people campaign on behalf of candidates or defame and condemn candidates.”
Phub Dorji also requested the public to avoid third party election advertising, which is a term for individuals advertising or campaigning for candidates under false or anonymous identity with an intention to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, a political party or candidate contesting in an election.
Third party election advertising includes any political advertising whether in print, broadcast or online.
The election law does allow a third party or a person to campaign on behalf of a candidate but only if he or she is a registered election campaign representative of that particular candidate. If not, it would be considered third party election advertising.
The act, ECB says, shall be regarded a criminal offence and defaulters would be prosecuted under laws.
“The election campaign representative can campaign on behalf of candidates but their conduct must conform to election laws. In case the representatives contravene election laws, the candidates would be held accountable for it,” Phub Dorji said.
Monitoring social media use by candidates
As for the candidates, ECB says they can use social media platforms to announce their candidature.
Phub Dorji said the candidates receive separate fund from the state to pay for their campaign materials. Almost all of them have submitted their campaign materials in soft copy to the ECB.
“ECB officials are working late into night running through the campaign materials. So, if there are things that need to be rectified, we ask them to make necessary changes. Before 25th, they will have the materials-the placards, posters, etc- in their hands. We hope they would use the ones approved by ECB.”
The candidates will also have to submit links of their Facebook and other social media accounts to their respective returning officers.
“The returning officers will share the links with the team that is monitoring social media and things that are not required will either be removed or the candidates will be asked to remove it themselves,” Phub Dorji shared.
