Election Commission Bans Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages Until Final Results Announced

Kathmandu. The Election Commission has announced a ban on the sale, distribution, and consumption of alcoholic beverages starting today until the final results of the election are declared.

The Commission proposed this measure based on the Election Security Plan endorsed by the High-Level Election Security Committee formed under Article 3 of the Election Security Management Directive, 2078.

Based on a review of the overall security situation, assessment of the ground reality, and guidance and recommendations regarding security arrangements, the Commission has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Commission has instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to direct all Chief District Officers and security agencies in the districts to ensure full compliance with the election code of conduct.

The District Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee has been instructed to mobilize designated personnel and mechanisms to prevent prohibited acts under the Election (Offenses and Penalties) Act, 2073, and the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, and to immediately take action according to prevailing laws and report to the Commission if any such acts are found.

On the day of voting, vehicles providing essential services such as ambulances, fire trucks, hearses, blood transfusion service vehicles, security agency vehicles, and vehicles for electricity, water, and sewage maintenance will be allowed to operate without hindrance.

Similarly, vehicles used for telecommunication service maintenance, vehicles of diplomatic missions, and vehicles that have obtained passes for use on election day will also operate smoothly. The Commission stated that a decision has been made to prohibit the operation of public and private vehicles from 12:00 AM on Falgun 20 until voting concludes on the evening of Falgun 21.

Furthermore, international and domestic air flights will continue to operate as usual on the day of voting. Arrangements have been made to facilitate the transport of passengers with tickets for international and domestic flights between the airport and their homes or hotels of residence.

The Commission also mentioned that necessary arrangements will be made to allow travel between hotels of residence and the airport using private vehicles or vehicles provided by the concerned airlines.

These documents can be shown to cast a vote

According to the House of Representatives Election (Voting) Directive, 2082, voters can cast their vote by showing either their voter identity card or their Nepali citizenship certificate when going to vote.

Similarly, voters can go to the polling station with their National ID/Identity Card or Passport or Land Ownership Certificate or Driving License. Accordingly, they can vote by carrying any one of these documents.

The Commission has stated that information has been disseminated to security personnel deployed for voting and stakeholders that voters whose names are on the voter list are eligible to vote.

On the day of voting, a pass distribution unit will be established on the premises of the Commission's secretariat to issue vehicle passes issued by the Election Commission and the District Administration Office, Kathmandu. Two employees from the Election Commission and two employees from the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, will be assigned to this unit.