Kathmandu, April 14

The Election commission today said that it had finalised about 21,000 polling stations throughout the country for the local level elections slated for May 14.

The EC said district election comittees throughout the country had sent reports on polling stations to its central office.

“There would be about 21,000 polling stations across the country,” said EC Secretary Gopinath Mainali. He informed that the polls panel is in final stage of preparations for the civic elections.

According to Secretary Mainali, ballot papers for the remaining four districts, including Saptari and Morang, with huge population are being printed at Janak Education Material Center’s press.

The EC said that about 16.2 million ballot papers were needed for 14,054,482 eligible voters.

Similarly, the commission has expedited printing of voter identity cards, which are being printed at EC’s central office under high security. The commission plans to supply electoral materials, including ballot papers, voter roll, voter ID, ballot boxes and others to all districts by April 25.

The commission said the contractor had delivered 21,000 large size ballot boxes.

It said the remaining 9,000 ballot boxes would be delivered soon.

The EC estimates that around 84,000 ballot boxes of various sizes would be required for the local level polls.

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Aayodhi Prasad Yadav expressed satisfaction with polls preparations at the local level.

Addressing a greeting exchange programme at the EC central office today, Yadav urged all not to cast doubt whether the polls would be held on the stipulated date.