KATHMANDU: The Election Commission has clarified the voting process and required documents for the House of Representatives election scheduled for tomorrow, urging voters to strictly follow guidelines to ensure a free, fair and orderly poll.

Speaking on behalf of the Commission, spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai called on voters to arrive at their respective polling centers with an official identity document.

According to the Commission, the voter identity card is mandatory for casting ballots.

However, it has adopted a flexible approach to ensure that no eligible voter is deprived of their right to vote due to loss or damage of the card.

Alternative Documents Accepted

Voters whose identity cards are lost, torn or damaged can still cast their ballots if their names appear on the voter roll.

They must present the original copy of any one of the following government-issued documents:

• Nepali Citizenship Certificate

• Passport

• National Identity Card

• Driving License

• Land Ownership Certificate (Lalpurja)

Voting Procedure Explained

Upon arrival at the polling station, voters’ names will be verified against the voter list.

They will then participate in two separate voting processes.

First, voters will receive a ballot paper under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system.

After marking their preferred candidate’s election symbol inside the secret booth, they must deposit the ballot into the designated ballot box.

Immediately after completing the direct voting process, voters will be provided with a second ballot paper under the Proportional Representation (PR) system.

They must mark the election symbol of their preferred political party and drop the ballot into a separate box.

Crowd Management Measures

Anticipating possible congestion at polling centers, the Commission has made special arrangements for crowd management.

Separate entry and exit gates have been instructed to facilitate smooth movement of voters.

The Commission has urged all voters to cooperate with election officials and security personnel to ensure a peaceful and dignified electoral process.