KATHMANDU, June 28: Following the successful first round local elections, the Election Commission (EC) is conducting the second round local polls at 334 local units in Provinces 1, 5 and 7.
The election body said all preparations for the elections are now complete and poll officers are waiting to welcome the voters at their respective polling centers.
Speaking at a press conference held today at the Election Commission, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said reliable security arrangements have been made for the elections.He urged all voters to participate in the polls without any fear and to in fact celebrate the occasion as a festival. “Reliable security arrangements are in place for the elections, and I urge all voters to cast their precious votes without any fear,” said CEC Yadav.
Up to 163,000 security personnel including personnel from Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, the National Investigation Department and Nepal Army as well as temporary police have been mobilized to ensure adequate security for the elections. Altogether 66,900 civil servants have been deployed across the 35 districts voting under phase two and polling centers have been set up in all the local units.
According to EC, a total of 8,364 polling centers have already been established and all tasks relating to elections have now been completed. “Since only voters who arrive at the polling centers from 7 am to 5 pm tomorrow can vote, I urge all voters to contribute one day for the nation and make the historic election a success,” said election chief Yadav.
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Stating that the election body has done its best by way of security management, it has appealed to all eligible voters to make their way to the polling centers and cast their votes fearlessly. The EC believes Wednesday's election will be peaceful, given that even the poll-opposing Rastriya Janata Party Nepal is running indirectly. Although some of the party's leaders are opposing the elections, many others are contesting as independent candidates in Rupendehi and other districts.
Poll officers have nearly completed the distribution of voter IDs.
Voters are urged to take their voter ID cards with them while heading to the polling centers. Voters can, however, cast their ballots with the help of their citizenship certificates, voter ID cards distributed in the 2013 constituent assembly election or any other government certified document if their ID cards have been misplaced, as long as they are registered in the voter rolls.
The second round local elections are for choosing the chiefs and deputy chiefs of municipalities and rural municipalities, and the heads of ward committees and members.
According to details provided by the election body, there are 6,432,735 eligible voters and they will elect 15,038 leaders of local units. Altogether 62,408 contestants are running for the aforementioned positions. Of the total positions up for elections, 41 have already been won unopposed.
The EC also informed that 6,733 domestic observers from 48 poll observation groups have been deployed. Unlike in first round elections, the EC has allowed representatives of diplomatic missions to visit select polling centers outside the Valley. Representatives of diplomatic missions will be visiting polling centers in Dhankuta, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Palpa, Dhangadhi and Dadheldhura, it is stated.
The local elections, which are taking place after some 20 years, are expected to bring grassroots democracy back to the country.
The EC has already conducted the first round of local elections in Provinces 3, 4 and 6, while elections in Province 2 are slated for September 18.
