Election Commission Nepal Urges Voters to Participate as Nationwide Polling Set to Begin
Umesh Dhakal
KNA- Canberra
Report from Kathmandu, Nepal — The Election Commission Nepal has affirmed its commitment to conducting a free, fair, transparent, and credible House of Representatives election in line with its constitutional mandate.
Polling is scheduled to take place nationwide on March 4 (Falgun 21 in the Nepali calendar) from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The election was announced under special circumstances following a period of political unrest on Falgun 23 and 24, 2082 (Nepali calendar).
The Commission stated that all essential election materials, including ballot papers, ballot boxes, and other logistical supplies, have been delivered to polling centers across the country. Preparations such as the construction and management of polling stations, accessibility arrangements, and gender- and disability-friendly facilities have been completed. Election staff and security personnel have also been fully deployed.
Authorities have assured voters that adequate security arrangements are in place to enable citizens to cast their ballots freely for their preferred candidates and political parties.
However, the Commission reported several tragic incidents during the preparatory phase. In Rolpa district, a vehicle carrying election officials, security personnel, and voting materials to a polling station was involved in an accident, resulting in the deaths of a security officer and a presiding officer. Additional fatalities were reported in Salyan and Surkhet districts, where presiding officers died while on duty, and in Kanchanpur district, where an election police officer also passed away during deployment.
The Commission expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased personnel and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incidents.
Emphasizing the broader democratic significance of the vote, the Commission stated that elections are not only a process for selecting representatives and forming a government but also a constitutional exercise that renews the legitimacy of democracy. It described voting as both a fundamental right and a civic responsibility, providing citizens with a direct role in shaping leadership, policymaking, and governance.
Calling the election a historic democratic exercise, the Commission has urged all eligible voters to participate enthusiastically and exercise their right to vote.
: Election Commission Nepal
