EC bans livestreaming, limits journalists to 10 minutes in polling booths

The Election Commission (EC) has imposed fresh restrictions on media coverage during the upcoming elections, prohibiting journalists from staying inside polling booths for more than 10 minutes or livestreaming from within them or on platforms like Facebook.

According to the updated "Guidelines for Journalists/Media Personnel Assigned to Cover Election News 2025", reporters with valid EC-issued accreditation cards may enter polling centres but must notify the presiding officer before collecting information, taking photographs, or filming.

However, capturing images or videos from the secret area of polling booths remains strictly prohibited, in line with measures aimed at preserving voter confidentiality.

Key directives under the 2025 media guidelines include: No more than two media outlets may enter a polling booth at the same time. Journalists' presence inside a polling booth is limited to 10 minutes. Interviews with election officials, voters, or polling agents inside booths are banned. Livestreaming from within polling booths is strictly forbidden; any live coverage must be conducted from outside, at a safe distance. Vote-counting rooms may be observed, and still photography is permitted, but no livestreaming is allowed there either.
The EC also emphasized that journalists must refrain from disrupting polling activities, follow instructions from presiding officers, and avoid campaigning or inflammatory content—whether for or against any candidate or party.

Violations of these rules may lead to revocation of media passes and legal action under election laws against both the journalist and their media outlet.

Notably, while international news agencies are mentioned in the guidelines, local news agencies are not specifically referred to—similar to the 2023 edition of the rules.

The EC stated that the new directives, applicable to both parliamentary and local elections, are intended to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful voting process while allowing media access to electoral developments.