Ballot Papers Dispatched Across Nepal Under Army Escort Ahead of February Polls

The process of dispatching ballot papers for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for Falgun 21 is underway, escorted by the Nepali Army. Election Commission officials state that ballot papers will reach 70 districts by Tuesday night.

The Army has been responsible for the security of ballot paper printing at the Janak Shiksha Samagri Kendra in Sanga Thimi, Bhaktapur. The Army is also escorting the ballot papers during transportation to the districts.

Election Commission Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai told Ratopati that ballot papers are yet to reach a few districts near the Kathmandu Valley and three districts in the Terai region. He stated, 'Ballot papers are yet to reach some districts; they will reach all districts by tomorrow evening.'

The Election Commission has already sent most election materials, other than the ballot papers, to various districts. The Armed Police Force is escorting the transportation of election materials. Armed Police Force Spokesperson (DIG) Bishnu Prasad Bhat told Ratopati that election materials have reached all 77 districts. He said, 'In many districts, the Armed Police team is escorting the materials; everything will reach everywhere by tonight.'

A high-level election security committee meeting held at the Election Commission on Tuesday discussed how to transport materials to high-altitude Himalayan districts due to the cold weather, even after the materials reach the district headquarters. A high-level security official present at the meeting told Ratopati that transportation challenges due to cold weather in the high Himalayan areas of Humla, Dolpa, Mugu, and Manang were discussed. Voters and security personnel in these four districts have also moved to lower altitudes to escape the cold. The Commission is reportedly discussing sending election materials and personnel to districts affected by cold weather via helicopter.

It is anticipated that security might face challenges in the Terai region due to the Holi festival falling before the election and the Madhyamaki Parikrama Mela taking place in Janakpur. The Holi festival is celebrated in the Terai on Falgun 19. Thousands of people walk from Sitamarhi in India for the Madhyamaki Parikrama Mela in Janakpur and return after visiting Janaki Mandir on Falgun 18. The Commission has discussed with high-level security officials how to manage this tradition and the Holi festival. An official from the Election Commission present at the meeting says, 'Discussions were held on how to manage the Holi festival as it falls during the silence period.'

The meeting of the high-level election security committee was attended by Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ramprasad Bhandari, Election Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut, Nepal Police IGP Dan Bahadur Karki, Armed Police IGP Raju Aryal, the head of the National Investigation Department, and representatives from the Nepali Army.

Security officials state that security personnel deployed for the elections in the Himalayan districts might face altitude sickness due to the cold. Discussions were held on managing this potential problem for other election staff as well.