The Election Commission has said it aims to announce the results of the first-past-the-post category of the House of Representatives election within 24 hours of ballot box collection, signaling an effort to accelerate the post-voting process.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari stated that because only the House of Representatives election is being held, the results are not expected to face significant delays. While proportional representation outcomes may take an additional one to two days, he clarified that direct category results will be declared within a day of ballot collection.
According to Bhandari, ballot papers have already been dispatched outside the Kathmandu Valley, and delivery to remaining polling locations in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur is being completed. Training for polling officers is scheduled to conclude by Tuesday evening, after which they will proceed to their designated stations with required materials.
He said logistical preparations, including ballot printing and transportation, have been completed and staff deployment is underway. On the question of temporary polling centers in Himalayan regions, Bhandari noted that a final decision is yet to be made. He said the Commission is assessing geographical challenges and weather conditions to ensure voters are not deprived of their rights.
If necessary, the Commission will travel to where voters are located to collect ballots, he indicated. Bhandari also urged political parties to refrain from exclusionary politics and called for fair competition, stating that credible leadership emerges only through clean electoral practices. He warned against spreading misleading information on social media ahead of voting, which is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 21st.
As preparations move into the final phase, the Commission maintains that it is ready to implement the election process as planned.