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The printing of the ballot papers for the proportional representation (PR) electoral system for the forthcoming House of Representatives (HoR) polls has been completed, the Election Commission (EC) said.  

The EC stated that a total of 20,850,000 ballot papers were printed on Monday at Janak Education Materials Center Limited, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur.

Managing Director of Janak Education Materials Center Limited, Yadunath Paudel, said that printing of the ballot papers for the first past the post electoral system will begin after the completion of the ballot papers for the PR system. 

The Center has already sent almost 1.1 million ballot papers to the EC as samples, which will be used for voter awareness and other related purposes.

The call center launched by the Election Commission (EC) on January 19 is capable of receiving 15 calls simultaneously. 

Established in view of the  House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5, the facility aims to provide voters with information related to election matters.

According to EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the call center is based at the EC office in Kantipath and has been set up to address concerns and queries from voters, citizens, and other stakeholders regarding the March 5 elections. 

Voters can dial the toll-free number 1102 for any election-related inquiries.

The facility is equipped with six desks and operates daily from 9 am to 6 pm, Bhattarai said.

The Election Commission has received applications from 100 political parties for the proportional election system. These parties submitted their applications before the deadline for the proportional category of the House of Representatives election, which is set for March 5. 

The Commission had designated the registration period for parties aiming for the proportional election from December 7-9.

According to the Commission, during this timeframe, a total of 100 political parties applied for the proportional election system. Among the applicants, there are parties that have opted for a joint election symbol as well as those that have chosen a single election symbol. 

The Commission has indicated that it will conduct a thorough review of the applications received and aims to approve them December 12. As per the Commission's schedule, the closed list for proportional representation is to be submitted on December 28 and 29.

Following a necessary review of this list, the preliminary list will be released on January 19. Claims, objections, and required scrutiny will take place regarding this list, with the final list expected to be published on 3 February. 

Out of the 275-member House of Representatives, 165 members will be elected through the direct election system, while 110 members will be elected via the proportional representation system.

The Election Commission (EC) held a meeting with political parties to discuss the House of Representatives election slated for March 5 next year.

Invitations were sent to political parties that were part of the dissolved House of Representatives (HoR) and those that secured at least one ward member in the last election, encouraging them to join in the preparations for the forthcoming election.

Meen Bishwakarma, Head of the Publicity Department of Nepali Congress; Guru Baral, Vice Chair of the CPN-UML; Dev Gurung, Secretariat Member of the CPN (Maoist Center); Kabindra Burlakoti, General Secretary of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP); Rajendra Prasad Pandey, Senior Vice Chair of the CPN (Unified Socialist); along with representatives from various other parties were present in the meeting.  

During the meeting, Acting Chief Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari called on the parties to take an active role in fostering an election atmosphere now that the election has been announced and preparations are underway.

Following the Gen-Z movement on September 8 and 9, the government was established under the leadership of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, leading to the dissolution of the House of Representatives, with the upcoming election date confirmed for March 5 next year.

The election code of conduct for the local-level by-election scheduled for December 1 has officially come into effect today, Sunday.

According to the Election Commission's joint secretary and Spokesperson Nita Pokhrel Aryal, the code of conduct is applied to people holding public posts in the respective districts, to authorities concerned, and to officials.

It is applied to the Government of Nepal and its ministers, the province governments and their ministers, constitutional bodies and officials of such bodies, bodies of the Nepal government or province governments and their officials, local executives and their members, employees at the federal, province, and local level, the security bodies, security personnel and employees, government, semi-government, and public entities and employees.

Similarly, the code covers political parties and their affiliated organizations, candidates and their representatives, political parties and candidates vote-counting representatives, persons assuming public posts, officials and monitors of monitoring committees, organizations relating to election observations and election observers, media, their employees and media personnel, private and non-governmental organizations, including their officials and employees, schools or universities including teachers and staff are obliged to the compliance with the code of conduct.

The election code of conduct covers voters, development partner organizations, projects run by governmental and quasi-government bodies and their staffs, organizations conducting voter education and their employees, private sector banks and financial institutions, cooperatives, trade and industry sector, their office-bearers, employees and workers, and the office-holders, employees and workers of goods and service providing business organizations.

The Election Commission said that if works prohibited by the code have to be carried out or have them done in other places of the district except in the local level where the election is taking place, the EC should be informed beforehand and these works can be carried out as per the solution given.

The Election Commission has expressed its confidence that all will extend cooperation in conducting the election in a free, fair, peaceful and credible manner by fully adhering to the Election Code of Conduct, as it is the statutory responsibility and moral duty of all individuals, organizations and officials to abide by the code.

The EC has urged one and all to lodge complaints in writing, verbally or through social sites, electronic means or any other way if any activities are found carried out by flouting the election code or if there are adequate grounds and reasons that the code is going to be breached.

The Election Commission has warned of legal action against anyone found violating the election code of conduct.

The Election Commission and the National Women Commission have submitted their annual reports to President Ram Chandra Paudel.

The reports, incorporating the works carried out by the two constitutional bodies in the fiscal year 2080-81 (2023-24), were presented to the Head of State amidst separate programmes held at the Office of the President in Shital Niwas today.

Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya and National Women Commission Chairperson Kamala Parajuli presented the annual report of their respective commissions.

On the occasion, President Paudel said that periodic election is the basis for consolidation of the federal democratic republic and for the nation's development and stability. He opined that it (periodic election) is the beauty and mandatory aspect of democracy, as it is through the election that people achieve their democratic rights and privileges.

Similarly, after receiving the National Women Commission report, the President said that although women participation is encouraging in some areas due to the sustained efforts, the representation of women, who make up more than half the population of the country, was still not satisfactory in the decision-making level. 

"It is seen that the women's participation in and contribution to other key sectors of life needed to be ensured through even more effective means. I am confident that the NWC will carry out works toward that end in a more vigorous and effective way in the coming days," President Paudel said.

Suspended General Secretary and spokesperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party Mukul Dhakal has filed an application at the Election Commission arguing that the action taken against him by the party was illegal.

Earlier on June 25, the party’s Central Committee meeting had decided to expel Dhakal from all official posts for going against the party’s policy and interest.

Saying that the action taken against him was illegal, he filed an application at the election body on Sunday. The party had given him 35 days to respond.

Dhakal claimed that the party has also not yet informed him about his dismissal.

He said that the action was against the political rights envisioned by the Constitution.

In addition to that, Dhakal urged the Election Commission to not entertain the letter if received from the RSP to update the decision.

"The action taken against me by the party is unlawful in accordance with Article 269 (4) and the Section 18(2) of the Act Related to Political Parties, 2073. I have filed a petition urging the Commission not to endorse or update the party's decisions in which my signature is missing cit

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya has said that intensive discussions are necessary between the political parties and the sides concerned on the issue of participation of the Nepali voters abroad in the election process.

Addressing a program organized by the Election Commission and the International Organization for Migration here today, the Chief Election Commissioner insisted that the topic of not depriving of voting right the Nepali citizen living in a place other than where he/she is enlisted in the voter list and those who are enlisted in the voter list but living abroad is an matter of global concern.

He stressed on the need of making legal and managerial arrangements on the basis of the existing constitutional system and of international and legal practices as well.

Secretary of the Election Commission, Rabi Lal Pantha said that migration is a citizen's right as well as in some cases a necessity, reiterating that the Commission was serious on the issue of not depriving the Nepalis living abroad of their voting rights.

According to him, it was found in the last election that the voter turnout in several districts and constituencies was less than 50 percent, which is probably due to the problem of outmigration.

The program will come up with suggestions and recommendations following deliberations among related experts, representatives of various political parties and the stakeholders.

The Election Commission and the government have been taking initiatives for implementing the Supreme Court's order directing to make legal arrangements allowing the Nepalis living abroad to cast their votes in the election. The Supreme Court had, in March 2018, issued such an order in the name of the Election Commission and the government.

Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav filed a writ at the Supreme Court against the Election Commission.

He filed the writ at the Supreme Court on Monday afternoon demanding annulment of the decision of the Election Commission to recognize the party formed after splitting the original party.

Saying that the new party is unconstitutional, Yadav demanded an interim order to scrap the decision of the Election Commission who gave recognition to that party.

The hearing on the writ will be held on Wednesday.

Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal senior leader Ashok Rai along with seven lawmakers formed a new party (Janata Samajbadi Party) and registered it at the Election Commission when Yadav was in the United States.

The Election Commission gave recognition to the new party last Monday.

Now, his party has only five lawmakers.

Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya submitted the 'Report on the By-election to the Member of House of Representatives and the Province Assembly, 2081 BS', along with the election results to President Ram Chandra Paudel on Thursday.

Chief Election Commissioner Thapaliya presented to the President the By-election, 2081 BS Report in accordance with the Clause 62 of the House of Representatives Member Election Act, 2074 BS, states a communiqué issued by spokesperson at the Office of the President, Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has urged the Election Commission (EC) to provide it with details of the work execution committee of the political parties.

According to the Ministry, a decision was taken to write to the EC demanding the details of office-bearers of all the central, province and district level work execution committees of the political parties.

Secretariat of the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Sumana Shrestha, said the details of the political parties affiliated working committees, which are in record of the EC, have been sought in order to forward the action against those teachers affiliated in the political parties.

After receiving the record from the EC, the Ministry would cross check the details of teachers and employees, which the ministry has, and office-bearers of the work execution committee of the political parties, it is said.

Minister Shrestha has been warning of a forwarding process for legal action against the teachers and staff if they were found holding positions in the work execution committees of the political parties. According to the Secretariat, the Ministry has received complaints about the issue that teachers and staff working at community schools have taken membership of different political parties, are holding positions in work execution committees and are party's general convention delegates.

Earlier, the Ministry had already sent a circular to District-based all education development and coordination units to take action against those teachers and staff, who are members of political parties' work execution committee.

Some of the district units have already forwarded action as per the circular.

A ministerial decision had already been taken to remove teachers holding position on political parties' work execution committees as per the existing laws and court's order and inform the Ministry about this and taking action continuously on such complaints of same nature.

The Election Commission (EC) provided election symbols to candidates of by-elections of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The by-elections are scheduled to be held in Ilam-2 and Bajhang-1 on April 27.

A total of 20 candidates, including 12 from different political parties and eight independent candidates had filed their nominations in Ilam.

Of them, an independent candidate Keshav Kumar Chapagain withdrew his candidacy. The name list of the remaining 19 candidates was published and they were provided with election symbols.

Similarly, in Bajhang, 12 candidates from 12 political parties had registered their nominations. Of them, a candidate of Nepali Janata Dal, Ashok Sunar, withdrew his candidacy and election symbols were provided to the remaining 11 candidates, according to the EC.

The Election Commission has sought submissions from political parties, civil society, media, and all the stakeholders concerned over the Political Parties Act-2017 as it aims to enhance the effectiveness of managing and regulating political parties.

The EC has constituted the Act Amendment Directive Committee coordinated by an election commissioner and the Act Amendment Drafting Committee headed by EC secretary and these committees have taken ahead the process for amending the Act, according to EC assistant spokesperson Ram Datta Pandeya.

The EC intends to facilitate substantive discussions among concerned entities on various aspects, including internal democracy in political parties, party membership, fund management, financial transparency, implementation of party statutes, dispute resolution mechanisms, decision archiving, and voluntary economic assistance.

Similarly, it aims to facilitate discussions on transparency, preparations of election manifesto and its enforcement, provisions for party separation and formation, accounting and auditing standards, single electoral symbol utilization, code of conduct enforcement, and the State funding for political parties. The aim is to address these issues appropriately and reach conclusive decisions.

The Election Commission has directed the political parties to inform it if they have made any changes and amendments to their names, statute, rules, stamp, flag and symbol as well as changes in their office-bearers within 30 days.

The EC, in accordance with Section 51 of Political Parties related Act, 2073, asked the political parties to submit the details in the stipulated format.

It said that the political parties were directed to submit the details in order to stop the trend of not providing information about the changes made in the party for a long time.

A press release issued by EC Assistant Spokesperson, Dr Thaneshowr Bhusal, stated that the parties were asked to submit the details only after making a decision from the party's general convention or central executive committee, which is in EC's record, or approved from general convention if possible.

Distribution of party membership, election, nomination and appointment of office-bearers and members including central committee should be as per political party related act, mentioned EC.

Likewise, the EC urged the political parties to make arrangements for their financial transactions through banks, keeping the accounting record in the specified format.

The Election Commission has urged all eligible Nepali citizens, who missed to register their name in voters' name list due to various reasons, to register their names before announcement of the date for the by-election.

It has started internal preparation for determining the date for by-election as per the law on appropriate time by consulting with the government of Nepal to fill up the vacant posts through by-poll.

The EC today urged the eligible Nepali citizens across the country, who missed to register their names in voters' list due to various reasons, especially the eligible citizens of concerned local-levels, province assembly constituency and House of Representatives constituency to register their name in electoral roll before announcement of the date for by-election.

A total of 23 posts had fallen vacant in different local levels, province assembly and House of Representatives after local-level election held on April 23 and election for the Province Assembly and HoR on November 20, 2023.

The EC has been regularly registering voter name lists through province and district election offices.

A press release issued by EC Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel reads that the EC is confident that all the eligible Nepali citizens across the country have been registered in the electoral roll as per the existing legal provision related to voter registration.

The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday submitted a report of the recently held National Assembly (NA) election to President Ram Chandra Paudel.

The NA election was held in all seven provinces on January 25 to elect 19 NA members. 

Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya submitted the report amid a function in the President House, Sheetal Niwas.

Spokesperson at the Office of the President, Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai, said that the EC submitted the report on National Assembly Election, 2080 along with the election result as per the clause 60 of the NA Election Act, 2075 BS. 

Election Commissioners Ram Prasad Bhandari, Dr Janaki Kumara Tuladhar, Sagun Shumsher JBR and Secretary Surya Prasad Gautam were present on the occasion.