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The printing of ballot papers for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections has reached the final stage.

According to the Janak Education Materials Center Limited, the remaining 500,000 ballot papers would be printed by this afternoon. 

Managing Director of the Center, Yadunath Poudel, confirmed that printing works will be completed by this evening.

"Printing of the ballot papers under the direct election system has reached the final phase," he said, adding that the remaining 500,000 ballot papers out of 20.3 million ballot papers will be printed by today. 

The Center had started the printing works with a schedule of 42 days and is accomplishing its task in 40 days.  

The ballot papers will be dispatched in all districts by tomorrow, Managing Director Poudel said. 

Similarly, 20,830,000 ballot papers for the proportional representation electoral system have already been printed. 

A total of 20,323,000 ballot papers are to be printed for the first-past-the-post electoral system.

The political parties and the candidates of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5 are beginning their formal election campaigns from today as per the election code of conduct. 

According to the Election Commission (EC), the candidates and political parties are allowed to organize rallies, mass meetings, corner assemblies and publish their election-related materials in the media outlets only from 15 days of the elections.

As per the same provision of the election code of conduct, the political parties and candidates could continue the publicity campaigns until March 1 midnight.

The EC has urged all stakeholders to conduct the election campaigns by fully upholding the integrity of elections.  

Likewise, the EC has also mobilized different mechanisms for the implementation and monitoring of the election code of conduct.  

In case of violation of the election code of conduct, the EC would seek clarification from the political parties and candidates, and would advance further legal actions. However, the EC has made it clear that such a situation for action would not come since the code of conduct was formulated after a massive interaction with the political parties and stakeholders.

Similarly, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said that the EC has taken the zero tolerance policy against the violation of the election code of conduct.

Most of the political parties and candidates vying for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections under the direct electoral system have unveiled and submitted their election manifestos to the Election Commission (EC). 

EC's Joint Secretary Yagya Prasad Bhattarai said that the EC is yet to get the details but several political parties and candidates have submitted their election manifestos for the HoR elections scheduled for March 5.

On Sunday, Rastriya Swatantra Party, Ujyalo Party Nepal and Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party unveiled their election manifestos. 

Likewise, the Nepali Congress is expected to release its election manifesto from Madhesh Province on February 18 and the CPN-UML is preparing to unveil the party's election manifesto by February 19, the concerned parties shared.

The Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajwadi Party, Rastriya Janamorcha and some other parties have already announced their election manifestos. 

The EC had directed the political parties to announce their election manifestos by February 15 to go for the election campaigns for the March 5 elections. 

As per the election code of conduct, the political parties participating in the election should submit their election manifestos to the EC and the candidates contesting for the first-past-the-post election system should submit their manifestos to the concerned Office of the Returning Office.

A voter education program has been launched in all 138 wards across 11 local levels that fall under 10 constituencies of Kathmandu district.

According to the District Election Office, Kathmandu, one volunteer has been mobilized  in each ward to provide voter education in preparation for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections. The voting is scheduled to take place on March 5.

Election Officer Thakur Bhattarai said the program will continue until March 1.

As part of the initiative, volunteers will visit voters at their doorsteps to instruct them on the proper voting process. The program will also educate voters about the importance of exercising their franchise.

The Election Commission (EC) has said that it has mobilized one volunteer in each of the 6,743 wards across 753 local levels nationwide.