Election Commission revises polling centres; inclusion quotas to follow latest census
KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 20
The Election Commission has announced that a total of 10,967 polling stations will be established across the country for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.
The number marks an increase of 168 polling stations from the 10,892 centres used in the previous elections. According to the commission, polling stations that were inconvenient, unused or poorly located have been removed or relocated to more accessible areas to facilitate voting.
The revision followed a nationwide review during which errors in the names and addresses of polling stations were corrected, and partial or all voters were transferred to centres closer to their residences. The commission had earlier informed voters about the review process through a public notice.
Meanwhile, the percentage of inclusive groups under the proportional representation (PR) system for the upcoming elections will be determined based on the 2021 national census. This change follows the promulgation of the House of Representatives Member Election (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2082.
President Ramchandra Paudel issued the ordinance on Friday on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, in accordance with Article 114(1) of the Constitution. The amendment revises Schedule 1 of the House of Representatives Member Election Act, 2074, updating inclusion quotas for Dalits, Indigenous Peoples, Khas Aryas, Madhesis, Tharu and Muslims, which were previously based on the 2011 census.
Under the revised provision, political parties contesting under the PR system must submit their closed lists of candidates in line with the updated inclusion percentages. The Election Commission has allocated December 28 and 29 for parties to submit their lists.
Election Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said the ordinance has simplified the process of determining inclusion percentages in line with the latest census data.
(With inputs from RSS)