SINDHUPALCHOWK, Nov 29: Compared to the past two Constituent Assembly (CA) elections and a local election, the voter turnout in the first phase of federal and provincial elections on Sunday is said to be the lowest in 10 years in Sindhupalchowk district.
This time, only 69 percent of voters in the district exercised their voting rights, it has been revealed.
According to the office of the chief returning officer, a total of 156,743 voters utilized their voting rights in the elections held on Sunday.
The district has a total of 226,540 registered voters, which meant only 69.19 percent of the votes were cast. This percentage is the lowest compared to the three elections held within the last ten years.
In the local elections held a few months ago, the voter turnover was 75 percent. Likewise, the first and second CA elections saw the voter turnout rate was 72 percent78 percent respectively. While the number of voters has consistently increased of late, the voter turnout rate has decreased over time, shows the data.
However, Chief Returning Officer Deepak Khanal said the current voter turnout rate should be taken positively. “We have to say that voters really were enthusiastic to cast their votes. The voter turnout rate of Sindhupalchowk district is on par with other districts where the first phase of elections were held,” he said.