The National Election Committee (NEC) has authorised the use of a unique decoration which will identify security agents at polling and counting stations for the upcoming commune council elections.

The NEC announced on February 3 that it will be the agents’ duty to maintain safety and order at all electoral facilities across the country on June 5.

The new insignia is made of navy blue tethered fabric and is sewn with navy blue yarn. With the NEC logo, they have the words “Election Security Agent 2022” embroidered on them. The labels are to be worn on the left arm.

NEC spokesman Hang Puthea told The Post on February 6 that security and order are particularly important around election time, as without peace, the elections could not take place.

“These new insignia will demonstrate which members of the police and armed forces are working as election security, and which are carrying out their regular duties,” he said.

Puthea said the NEC has signed a joint agreement to maintain order and security during the election with the ministries of Interior and National Defence, an arrangement which is in effect each election.

On January 31, the NEC announced that it would introduce three new pieces of software to assist the commune municipal and provincial electoral commissions to increase the effectiveness and transparency of their election work.

Employed for the first time, the programmes will manage the candidates from each participating party; certifies the identities of those voters without ID cards; and check, verify and tally the results of the election.

The NEC claimed that these programmes would eliminate some of the challenges that were faced by officials.