KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 13
The Election Commission has intensified preparations for the local level election slated for May 13, said Secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi at a news conference here today.
As part of the preparations, the EC has approved the election schedule. According to the schedule, the EC will perform work related to finalising voters' list, management of equipment and materials for the poll, registration of political parties, preparing and launching voter's education campaigns, publication of election programmes, appointment of election officers, establishment of election offices and implementation of election code of conduct.
"Likewise, activities such as fixing polling stations and centres, mobilisation of workforce, launching training programmes, making arrangements for election supervision and monitoring, managing ballot papers, registrations of candidates' nomination, providing election symbol, publicising election-related activities, printing, supplying and distributing voters' identity cards, managing security, vote counting and announcing election results will be carried out," said the EC's Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel.
Nepali citizens above 18 years of age can cast their vote, according to the constitution.
Registration in the voters' list was halted on 30 December 2021. "The total number of voters in the country is estimated to be around 17.9 million until May 12, the day before the election date," said Poudel.
"Management of budget for the poll has reached its final stage and approximately Rs 12 billion is estimated for it," he said.
Preparations are under way to draft the election code of conduct, manage workforce directives, financial, local level election, election monitoring , security management, voting, vote counting, and voters education programme implementation directives.
With the announcement of election date, the offices of the EC will remain open from 9:00am to 6:00pm and even during holidays.
Likewise, a taskforce has been formed to carry out feasibility study regarding the use of electronic voting system after discussions with experts. The taskforce has to submit the report within seven days.
The EC will organise a press conference twice a week (every Monday and Thursday) to inform the public about election-related activities.
Similarly, it will publish e-bulletin on daily election activities.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 14, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
