Kathmandu — Nepal’s Election Commission said it expects the vote counting for the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system in the upcoming House of Representatives election to be completed within 24 hours after counting begins.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari made the statement during a press conference at the Election Commission, saying the results of directly elected seats will be announced within a day after the ballot counting process starts.
According to the commission, counting of votes under the proportional representation (PR) system will begin only after the FPTP vote counting is completed.
Directives Issued to 165 Constituencies
The Election Commission has already issued official directives related to vote counting to all 165 electoral constituencies across the country. Officials said technical and logistical arrangements have been prepared to ensure the counting process proceeds quickly and smoothly.
To strengthen security and transparency, counting centers will be equipped with wire fencing and CCTV surveillance, the commission said.
Helicopters to Transport Ballot Boxes From Remote Areas
Because of Nepal’s difficult geography, the commission said ballot boxes from remote mountainous areas will be collected as quickly as possible. “If necessary, ballot boxes from mountainous regions will be transported by helicopter,” Bhandari said.
Officials confirmed that ballot boxes from 61 locations in 15 districts will be transported by helicopter after voting concludes. The helicopters used for the operation will belong to the Nepal Army.
Election Security Protocol Remains Unchanged
The Election Commission said there will be no change in the traditional security system used to protect ballot boxes. The Nepal Army will remain deployed in the third security layer during the election process.
Bhandari clarified that the army will not handle ballot boxes directly but will provide helicopters for transportation. “The ballot boxes will carry seals placed by representatives of political parties. Vote counting will begin only after party representatives confirm that the seals are intact,” he said.
