Nepal votes this Friday (May 13) to elect new representatives for its 753 local units, in what will be the second local elections under the new constitution.  

From the Election Commission’s side, all systems are a go. Polling stations are being prepared and election materials being delivered and set up across the country. The poll governing body has also assigned returning officers to ensure that the election takes place in a free and fair manner.

Meanwhile, the government has activated the security forces—the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and National Investigation Department—for election security. It has also deployed 100,000 temporary police personnel to help with the security arrangements. 

The government has declared May 13 a public holiday so that people can vote. Many people working and living in cities like Kathmandu have returned to their towns and villages to cast their ballots. There are 17.7m voters this time; 3.6m of them are first-timers.

A total of 137,043 people have filed their candidacies for 35,221 posts. The campaign period has ended, and the political parties and candidates are currently observing election silence. Now they wait for the voters to decide their fate.