Election Materials Arrive in Humla Ahead of House of Representatives Vote

Humla. With only 11 days remaining until the House of Representatives election, ballot papers and other election materials have arrived in the high-altitude district of Humla. Election Officer Bhim Bahadur Rokaya stated that the Election Commission dispatched ballot papers and other necessary materials to the Himalayan districts of Karnali Province via air transport.

The ballot papers and other election materials reached Humla on Saturday via a Nepal Army helicopter from Surkhet. According to Election Officer Rokaya, 10 types of materials arrived in Humla by the army helicopter on Saturday. Expenses for allowances for staff deployed at polling stations, transportation, and the helicopter have been sent along with the election materials, and the Commission will continue to work based on necessity.

The Commission has stated that a budget has been sent to the respective District Election Offices for the purchase of medicines, considering the risk of altitude sickness in the district above 3,000 meters. Chief Election Officer Nilkantha Baral informed that the security chiefs had requested arrangements for the travel of staff deployed at polling stations before and after the election in the Himalayan districts of Karnali Province, and discussions have been held with the Commission to make such arrangements.

The district has 34,372 voters, 60 polling stations, and 64 polling centers for the election. Election materials were handed over in the presence of Chief Election Officer Baral, Chief District Officer Tek Kumar Regmi, Battalion Commander Haribabu Shrestha, Police Deputy Superintendent Shankar Khadka, Armed Police Force Deputy Superintendent Pushkar Singh Air, Investigation Chief Meghraj Kandel, Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee members Rajendra Chand and Ang Bahadur Karki, and District Election Officer Bhim Bahadur Rokaya.

369 staff mobilized for the election

The Office of the Chief Election Officer has mobilized 369 staff in Humla for the House of Representatives election. Chief Election Officer Nilkantha Baral stated that 75 staff (five staff each for 15 polling centers in the district) and 294 staff (six staff each for the remaining 49 polling centers) have been mobilized.

Out of the 64 polling centers in the district, five staff have been assigned to centers with fewer than 300 voters, and six staff to centers with more voters. Two Polling Officers and two Assistant Polling Officers have been kept in reserve. He mentioned that they are kept in reserve to be deployed if someone cannot attend for any reason.

Similarly, three individuals have been assigned administrative responsibilities under the coordination of Shreedeep Wagle, Registrar at the court and Assistant Polling Officer. Court Naib Subba Chhattabahadur Bogati has been assigned administrative work, and Accountant Shyamprasad Sapkota has been assigned responsibility for accounts and payment.

According to Chief Election Officer and District Judge Baral, 64 Polling Officers, 64 Assistant Polling Officers, 175 support staff, and 64 auxiliary staff have been mobilized across the 64 polling centers in the district.