Counting Centers Secured with Fencing and CCTV Ahead of Elections in Mustang

Pokhara. The counting center in Mustang, a district beyond the Himalayas, was prepared on Tuesday. The hall of the District Coordination Committee in the district headquarters Jomsom has been enclosed with wire mesh and kept ready for counting. In addition, CCTV cameras have also been arranged.

Lokendra Gyawali, Chief of the Election Office, says, 'Mesh has been installed so that people cannot rush in and enter the counting center. We will not add more CCTV cameras now. From the time the ballot boxes arrive until the counting is complete, the security will be maintained by the mesh, cameras, and security personnel.'

Before the 2074 local elections, political party representatives used to be present at the counting centers in Nepal. They would sit with the counters, tally the votes, and the results would be announced. However, during the counting of votes for Bharatpur Metropolitan City in the 2074 local elections, representatives themselves tore the ballot papers, which led to the strengthening of counting centers now.

In the second week of Jestha of the same year, as the counting for the mayoral post was reaching its final stage, a representative of a party deployed in the counting tore the ballot papers. After unauthorized occupation of the counting center and tearing of more than 90 ballot papers, the Election Commission was forced to hold a re-election in Ward No. 19.

Special precautions were taken in the counting that followed. The area around the counting center was declared a restricted zone and enclosed with long wire mesh. This arrangement, which prevents representatives from touching the ballot papers during counting, has continued in every subsequent election.

In this election too, counting centers in most places are surrounded by wire mesh. With all the Returning Officers deployed in the field for voting, the Office of the Chief Returning Officer and the Election Officer have completed the necessary groundwork for preparing the counting centers.

Narayan Dhakal, Chief of the Provincial Election Office, informed that counting centers have been prepared for all 18 constituencies in Gandaki. According to him, wire mesh is mandatory at all counting centers. He added that CCTV cameras have also been installed in many places, considering the sensitivity.

'CCTV cameras will also monitor the counting in areas deemed sensitive. Strict action will be taken against any activity that affects the counting,' Dhakal said, 'Wire mesh has been installed at almost all counting centers.'

Security agencies will monitor and secure the ballot boxes from voting until the final results are announced. Election police have been deployed for this purpose. Nepal Police will be in the first cordon around the ballot boxes. The Armed Police Force will provide security from the second cordon, while the Nepali Army will be deployed in the third cordon.

According to Dhakal, the role of security agencies is also crucial during the transportation of ballot boxes. However, in some places, representatives of political parties have not given up their insistence that they must be present during the transportation of ballot boxes.

Voting will take place from 2,396 polling stations across Gandaki Province. Nearly 21,000 personnel have been mobilized to conduct this election. The Provincial Election Office stated that a total of 21,415 personnel have been deployed across the province to conduct the election in a fair, impartial, and orderly manner, of which 14,350 are employees and 7,065 are volunteers.

There are more than 1.87 million voters in this election, and it is estimated that around 60 percent will cast their votes. In addition to permanent polling stations, temporary polling stations have also been arranged in every district for employees, inmates in prisons, and security personnel. They will only be able to cast votes for proportional representation.