KATHMANDU, Nov 28: Election Commission officials in 32 districts have started transporting the ballot boxes from the polling stations to the respective district headquarters. 

Helicopters are being used to collect ballot boxes from high Himalayan and hilly regions while mini-trucks transported the ballot boxes from other places. “So far, ballot boxes from 507 of the total 2,917 polling locations have been completed. Ballot boxes of 467 polling locations are on their way to the district headquarters,” said Joint Secretary Dinesh Ghimire told Republica. 

Helicopters are being used to collect ballot boxes of 40 polling locations of Sankhuwasabha, Rukum (east), Rolpa, Bajhang, Darchula districts.

According Ghimire, all ballot boxes from Panchthar, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Dhading, Nuwakot, Sidhuli, Gorkha, Manag, Lamjung, Mustang, Mygadi, Jumla and Humla have been brought to the respective district headquarters. “We hope the ballot collection work will be completed by Tuesday evening,” said Ghimire. 

The ballot boxes will be kept at the district headquarters till the completion of the second phase of the parliamentary and provincial elections on December 7. EC and the political parties have agreed to begin counting the votes only after the completion of the second round of the elections so as to avoid influencing the second round. 

District election authorities plan to keep the ballot boxes at the district administration office, and police, the district coordination committee and representatives of contesting parties will be guard the ballot boxes until the vote counting begins on December 8.  There is a three-layer security arrangement in place to protect the ballot boxes.

 
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