National Human Rights Commission Finds Overall House of Representatives Election Process Satisfactory from Human Rights Perspective

Kathmandu. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stated that the overall voting process in the House of Representatives elections held on Thursday was satisfactory from a human rights perspective. The conclusion that the election was conducted peacefully was drawn based on the on-site monitoring conducted by 52 teams comprising the Commission's Chairman, members, and staff across 75 districts of the country.

The Commission interpreted the fact that citizens were able to exercise their right to vote due to high security alertness and efficient management at polling stations as a positive aspect of democracy. During the monitoring, the Commission pointed out managerial and technical weaknesses in some districts and polling centers.

Voting was temporarily halted in some locations in Dolakha, Syangja, and Sarlahi due to disputes among party cadres, but it resumed, according to the Commission's report. The report also noted that voter turnout was zero or very low in some centers in Dang, Okhaldhunga, and Darchula. The Commission seriously highlighted the issue where many citizens were deprived of voting because some polling stations were inaccessible to persons with disabilities, the elderly, and new mothers, or were located far from settlements.

The Commission drew the attention of the government and the Election Commission to improve basic services such as drinking water, sanitation, and first aid at polling centers in the future. The Commission also addressed the issue where a large number of voters living abroad and those outside their registered districts could not cast their votes due to the lack of a technology-friendly electoral system.

Some voters complained that they had to return even though they had identity cards because their names were not on the voter list. Despite all these challenges, the Commission thanked the government, security agencies, and staff for their role in successfully completing the election and suggested making the next election more inclusive and technology-friendly.