Voter Turnout Reaches 56.53% in Ilam House of Representatives Election

Ilam. The voter turnout for the House of Representatives election held in Ilam on Thursday was 56.53 percent. Chief District Officer Laxman Dhakal informed that after receiving details from all polling centers, 131,039 votes were cast out of a total of 231,809 registered voters, resulting in a 56.53 percent turnout.

According to CDO Dhakal, 62,777 women, 68,261 men, and one 'other' voter cast their ballots in the district. In Ilam, which has two constituencies, Constituency No. 1 saw 29,728 women and 34,376 men vote. This constituency had a total of 112,320 eligible voters, including 53,646 women, 58,673 men, and one 'other'.

Similarly, Constituency No. 2 saw 33,049 women, 33,885 men, and one 'other' voter cast their ballots. This constituency had 119,489 eligible voters, including 58,512 women, 60,975 men, and two 'other' voters. Data from the District Election Office Ilam indicates that the voter turnout for the House of Representatives election held on Mangsir 4, 2079 BS was 57.44 percent.

Voting in Ilam took place from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM across 290 polling centers at 150 polling stations. CDO Dhakal stated that the election was conducted peacefully, enthusiastically, and in a cordial atmosphere throughout the district. Collection of ballot boxes is ongoing as of the preparation of this news.

Preparations are underway to start vote counting from Friday morning. CDO Dhakal mentioned that the counting will be delayed slightly as it will take time to bring in the ballot boxes from all locations. Time will be required to transport ballot boxes from remote rural municipalities like Chulachuli, Mangsebung, and Phakphokthum, which are far from the district headquarters.

“It may take until 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM to bring the ballot boxes from the remote polling centers,” CDO Dhakal told RSS. “We are preparing to hold an all-party meeting between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM. The counting will commence based on the decision made by that meeting.”

Chief Returning Officer Roshan Gajurel informed that the Gautam Buddha Auditorium (City Hall) in Ilam Municipality-7 has been prepared for vote counting for Constituency No. 1, and the hall in Suryodaya Municipality has been prepared for Constituency No. 2. Gajurel stated that both halls have been fitted with wire mesh so that only the counters can sit inside.

Space has also been arranged for representatives to wait outside. CCTV cameras have been installed at the counting sites. A total of 27 candidates, including 13 parties in Constituency No. 1 and one independent candidate in Constituency No. 2, are in the electoral contest here.