KATHMANDU, April 2: Janak Education Materials Center Ltd, Sanothimi Bhaktapur has started printing ballot papers for the upcoming local level election on May 13.

According to the Election Commission, the total number of voters who will complete 18 years of age by May 12 is 177,333,723. According to the spokesperson of the commission, Shaligram Sharma Poudel, Janak Education Materials Center Ltd will print about 20 million ballot papers for the total voters. A team including the commissioner of the commission has already inspected the situation at the center on Thursday in terms of security including machine and ink used for printing.

According to Poudel, ballot papers will be printed district-wise this time. “The ballot paper was printed as a test on Friday. Quality, including ink, was tested,” he said. “There are 77 types of ballot papers printed in 26 groups.” Out of the total voters, 8,741,530 are women, 8,992,010 are men and 183 are others.

Assistant Spokesperson of the Commission Surya Prasad Aryal said that the commission had printed only six types of ballot papers in the previous election but this time it was decided to print the ballot papers district-wise after 73 parties applied for the election in all 77 districts. “The ballot paper will be big as the parties have applied for the election in all 77 districts,” he said.

Similarly, Chief of Janak Education Materials Center Ltd Anil Jha said that printing of ballot papers has been going on under tight security since Friday. He said that the size of the ballot paper would be 73 cm wide and 103 cm long. ‘Seven machines have started printing ballot papers,” he said.

“Ballot papers are being printed under the surveillance of 150 Nepal Army under the security command of the colonel,” Chief Jha said. "Printing of ballot papers and transportation to remote and mountainous districts will be completed by April 30." Chief Jha also claimed that the printing of ballot papers will not hinder the printing of school books for the new academic season that starts from mid-May.

 
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