KATHMANDU: The Election Commission stated that the first phase of provincial and parliamentary elections were held peacefully, enthusiastically and with a voter turnout of over 65 per cent across the 32 districts that went to the polls on Sunday. Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav said at a press conference after the voting was over that voters  enthusiastically turned up at polling centres from early in the morning and that voting  continued till 5:00pm in all the 2,919 polling stations and 4,465 polling booths. CEC Yadav said, “The voter turnout percentage can rise, as we have yet to include data from some places.” He said the highest turnout was in Bajura district, where 80 per cent voters cast their votes. However, the overall voter percentage was lower than that witnessed during the local level polls, which saw 73 per cent voters exercise their franchise. Yadav blamed adverse weather conditions as one of the reasons for low voter turnout in some districts. According to Yadav, polling was by and large peaceful, barring a few sporadic incidents of violence. Of the 4,465 polling booths, election was suspended in two polling booths of Rukum West — polling booth ‘A’ of Ratna Secondary School of Bafikot Rural Municipality and polling booth ‘B’ of Rastriya Secondary School of Aathbiskot Municipality — where ballot boxes were burnt. The EC stated that fresh polling would be held there. CEC Yadav added that the EC had started transporting ballot boxes to offices of chief returning officers and returning officers. He said all ballot boxes would be kept under direct supervision and control of chief returning officers and returning officers of respective constituencies. He added that the EC had made arrangements to keep ballot boxes safely at places as agreed upon by chief returning officers, returning officers, security agencies, political parties and candidates. Yadav added that counting would start after the conclusion of the second phase of elections on December 7 in the remaining 45 districts. Altogether ballots were cast for 37 parliamentary FPTP constituencies and 74 provincial FPTP constituencies. Voters also cast their votes under the PR system. The entire country is a constituency for the PR system. The 32  districts, where the first phase of elections were held today,  are: Taplejung, Panchthar, Khotang, Okhaldhunga, Bhojpur and Solukhumbu of Province 1; Nuwakot, Dhading, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha and Ramechhap of Province 3; Mustang, Myagdi, Baglung, Manang, Lamjung and Gorkha of Province 4; Rukum East and Rolpa of Province 5; Rukum West, Jajarkot, Humla, Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot and Dolpa of Province 6; and Darchula, Bajhang, Bajura and Baitadi of Province 7. Second phase of elections scheduled for December 7 will elect 128 MPs under the FPTP system and 256 members of provincial assemblies under the FPTP system. (UPDATED) 65 pc voter turnout in first phase Federal, State Assembly polls KATHMANDU: Around 65 per cent voter turnout in the first round of the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies held in 32 mountainous districts across the nation, Election Commission said. Addressing a press meet after the elections, in Kathmandu today, the Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Ayodhee Prasad Yadav informed that Bajura topped with more than 80 percent voter turnout, where Manang district recorded the lowest turnout. The first phase of election held at 4465 polling stations across 32 districts would elect 37 parliamentarian members and 74 members to the State Assemblies. CEC Yadav informed that the voter turnout was enthusiastic as they throng the polling stations from 7am-5pm to cast their votes. 'Election Commission respects people's enthusiasm towards elections as it would help for successful implementation of federal democratic in the country to attain political stability,' Yadav added. The Election Commission have decided to hold re-elections of two polling centres in Rukum district after the CPN-Maoist Centre cadres poured acid in the ballet boxes this morning. The re-elections of the Ratna Lower Secondary School voting centre at Bafikot Rural Municipality-5 and at the Gattasaina voting centre at Aathbiskot Municipality-12 in Rukum west would be held on December 7. Despite minor incident in Rukum district, CEC Yadav said the elections were held in a peaceful manner in other polling stations. Preparation are underway to bringing ballot boxes at the district headquarters from all the polling centres, informed Yadav. The ballot boxes brought to the the District Election Officer's office or the Chief Returning Officers have been heavily guarded by the security forces in presence of political parties representatives. The Election Commission has clarified that the vote counting of the first phase elections would start after the completion of the second phase elections on December 7. Meanwhile, the EC has urged all the political parties, security forces, general public and election observers to provide their support for successfully holding the second phase of elections in remaining 45 district, on December 7. AS per the constitution requirement, Nepal should hold all levels of elections by January 21 for the implementation of constitution and federalism in the nation.