KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 6 A total of 8.44 million ballot papers have been printed so far for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5. Speaking at a weekly press briefing on Thursday, the Election Commission (EC) said it requires printing over 20 million (total 20,323,000) ballot papers for the HoR direct election. EC Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai informed that the packing of the printed ballot papers has already been completed. Printing and packing works have been over for 32 districts: Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Humla, Jajarkot, Dailekh, Rukum West, Salyan, Surkhet, Bajura, Achham, Bajhang, Doti, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Baitadi, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Panchthar, Ilam, Tehrathum, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Sunsari, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, Khotang, Dhankuta, Baglung and Gulmi. The printing of ballot papers is underway at the Janak Education Materials Centre, Sanothimi since January 6. In the first phase, over a million (total 1,098,200) sample ballot papers were printed and distributed to various districts. Meanwhile, under the proportional representation of the electoral system, over 20 million (total 20,830,000) ballot papers have been printed, packed and verified. They are now readied for the dispatch.