KATHMANDU, MARCH 5
Voting for the House of Representatives began promptly at 7 a.m. in most parts of the country. According to the Election Commission, 1,823,824 votes had been cast nationwide by 11:00 a.m., accounting for approximately 10 per cent of all votes.
Voting started at 7:00 a.m. today (Thursday) and will run until 5:00 p.m. Voters who arrive at the polling station within the time limit set by the Commission will be able to vote.
In the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system, 65 political parties are competing with 61 election symbols. 3,406 candidates-3,017 men, 388 women, and one from the other category-are running in the FPTP election category.
3,135 candidates-1,363 men and 1,772 women-are running under the proportional representation system. Elections are being held for 110 seats under the proportional representation system and 165 constituencies under the direct system.
A total of 18,903,689 voters nationwide-9,663,358 men, 9,240,131 women, and 200 others-are casting ballots in the election. To that end, 23,112 polling stations have been established at 10,967 polling locations. At 143 temporary polling places, about 150,000 people will cast ballots using the proportional representation system.
The Nepali Army has deployed 79,727 personnel, the Nepal Police has 75,797, the Armed Police Force has 34,567, the National Investigation Department has 1,921, and the election police have 149,090.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari told reporters after voting today that voter turnout is expected to be higher than 65%.
He claimed that since the morning, he has spoken with representatives from over a dozen mountainous districts, and that voting is still taking place and the weather is favourable.
However, it appears that the five per cent vote from earlier elections has been invalidated.
Nationwide, 18,903,689 people are registered to vote (9,663,358 men, 9,240,131 women, and 200 others). As a result, representatives of the Election Commission have claimed that a comprehensive election awareness programme has also been carried out this time.
Following that, it is expected that 65 per cent will be cast throughout the country.
PAST ELECTIONS VOTER TURNOUT
2022: 61.63 per cent
2017: 68.67 per cent
2013: 78.34 per cent (Second Constituent Assembly)
2008: 61.70 per cent (First Constituent Assembly)
1999: 65.79 per cent
1994: 61.86 per cent
1991: 65.15 per cent
