Election Commission Bans Public and Private Vehicle Movement on Voting Day

Kathmandu. The Election Commission has announced that the operation of public and private vehicles will be prohibited from 12:00 AM on Falgun 20 until the completion of voting.

The High-Level Election Security Committee, formed in accordance with Article 3 of the Election Security (Management) Directive, 2078, regarding effective security arrangements for the House of Representatives election to be held on Falgun 21, has decided to ban the operation of all public and private vehicles from 12:00 AM on Falgun 20 until the voting concludes on the evening of Falgun 21, except for vehicles providing essential services (ambulances, fire trucks, hearses, blood transfusion service vehicles, security agency vehicles, vehicles used for electricity, drinking water, and sewage maintenance, and telecommunication service maintenance vehicles), vehicles of diplomatic missions, and vehicles with passes issued for use on election day, according to Commission Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.

The committee also decided to send a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs to impose a nationwide ban on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages starting seven days before the election date until the final results are announced. The decision was made by the committee to prohibit the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in all 77 districts for election security.

Spokesperson Bhattarai informed that the District Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee has been instructed, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, to all District Administration Offices to prevent prohibited acts as per Section 24 of the Election (Offenses and Penalties) Act, 2073, and Sections 17 and 18 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, by mobilizing designated individuals and mechanisms, and to immediately take action according to prevailing laws and inform the Commission if any such acts are found to have occurred.

It was decided by the High-Level Election Security Committee meeting to write to the Ministry based on the review of the plan, assessment of the security situation, and guidance and recommendations regarding security arrangements, to conduct the election in a fair, reliable, and fear-free environment.

For this purpose, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the Chief District Officers and security agencies in all districts to fully enforce the election code of conduct during the election campaigning prohibition period, which comes into effect from 12:00 AM on Falgun 18, according to him.

According to him, arrangements have been made for international and domestic flights to operate as usual on the voting day. For passengers with tickets for international and domestic flights, arrangements have been made to allow them to use private vehicles or vehicles provided by the respective airlines for travel between the airport and their homes/hotels of residence.

The Commission has also written a letter through the Home Ministry to all 77 District Administration Offices to arrange for the closure of international border crossings in the respective districts starting 72 hours before the election date, as mentioned in Clause (Jha) of Section 6 of the Election Security (Management) Directive, 2082, along with all other tasks specified regarding maintaining peace and security in the election.

Spokesperson Bhattarai informed that instructions have also been given to all security personnel, staff, and concerned parties deployed for voting to inform voters that those named in the voter list can cast their vote by bringing any one of the documents specified in Clause 43 and Clause 84 of the House of Representatives Election (Voting) Directive, 2082, which requires voters to bring their voter ID card, Nepali citizenship certificate, national identity card, passport, land ownership certificate, or driver's license to the polling center.

A pass distribution unit will be established on the Commission's secretariat premises to provide vehicle passes issued by the Commission and the Kathmandu District Administration Office on the voting day, in accordance with the Vehicle Pass Issuance Procedure, 2082, issued by the Commission.

Two employees from the Commission and two employees from the Kathmandu District Administration Office have been assigned to this unit. As per the decision, the Commission has also requested all concerned parties to facilitate and coordinate as necessary.