Election Commission’s central office also registering voters

Kathmandu, August 9

The Election Commission has started registering voters from its central office as the number of people seeking to register their names on the electoral roll has increased sharply in Kathmandu Valley.

EC Spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma said the polls panel had set up four desks at the central office to register voters. “We have taken this move to reduce workload of district election offices and local levels,” said Sharma, adding that out-district voter registration is unexpectedly high in all three districts of Kathmandu Valley.

EC official Chandra Sibakoti said over 90 per cent voters who registered their names on the electoral roll were from outside the Valley. “Of the 2,200 voters registered till yesterday, 2,080 are from outside the Valley,” said Sibakoti.

The EC had begun registering voters from the City Hall of Kathmandu Metropolitan City after the crowd in Kathmandu District Election Office became unmanageable. KMC has set up 10 separate desks for voter registration.

“People from districts outside the Valley who are here for business, studies and employment are being benefited,” said Deputy Director of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Saraswati Pokhrel. She said KMC had been registering voters from 9:30am to 7:00pm.

The EC said it would collect voter list from local levels until August 17. Voters can register their names on the electoral roll from district and regional election office.

The EC expects over one million new voters in provincial and parliamentary elections.