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Chapter VII

Chapter VII of the Elections Act, 2017 regulates election expenses to ensure fair competition among candidates by imposing spending limits and promoting transparency. Key provisions include defining election expenses, requiring candidates to maintain a separate bank account for campaign funds, and mandating the submission of detailed expense returns after elections. Additionally, candidates who do not meet a minimum vote threshold risk forfeiting their security deposit, discouraging non-serious candidates from running.

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14 views1 page

Chapter VII

Chapter VII of the Elections Act, 2017 regulates election expenses to ensure fair competition among candidates by imposing spending limits and promoting transparency. Key provisions include defining election expenses, requiring candidates to maintain a separate bank account for campaign funds, and mandating the submission of detailed expense returns after elections. Additionally, candidates who do not meet a minimum vote threshold risk forfeiting their security deposit, discouraging non-serious candidates from running.

Uploaded by

Mazhar Hassnain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter VII of the Elections Act, 2017, is dedicated to election expenses, a critical aspect of

regulating campaign finance to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. This chapter sets
out rules to limit campaign spending, promote transparency, and hold candidates accountable
for their financial declarations.

Key Provisions
●​ Limits on Election Expenses: The Act sets specific monetary limits on the amount a
candidate can spend on their election campaign. The limits vary depending on the
assembly. For instance, the limit for a National Assembly seat is higher than that for a
Provincial Assembly seat. This provision aims to reduce the influence of money in politics
and give a fair chance to candidates with less financial backing.
●​ Definition of "Election Expenses": The law provides a comprehensive definition of
election expenses. It includes all expenditure made by a candidate, or by anyone else on
their behalf, for the purpose of the election. This can be anything from advertising and
publications to transportation and campaign events.
●​ Separate Bank Account: A key requirement introduced by this chapter is that every
candidate must open a separate and exclusive bank account for their election
expenses before the date of the scrutiny of nomination papers. All transactions related to
the campaign must be conducted through this account, making it easier to track and
monitor spending.
●​ Return of Election Expenses: After the election, every contesting candidate, whether
they won or lost, must submit a detailed return of election expenses to the Returning
Officer. This return must be supported by bills, receipts, and other documents to vouch for
every payment. This is a crucial transparency measure.
●​ Forfeiture of Deposit: The Act also contains provisions for the forfeiture of a candidate's
security deposit. If a candidate fails to secure a certain minimum percentage of the total
votes polled in the constituency (for example, less than one-fourth), their security deposit
is forfeited in favor of the government. This is a mechanism to deter non-serious
candidates from participating in the elections.

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