Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has decided to transport ballot papers by helicopter to five Himalayan districts for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 (Falgun 21), citing difficult terrain and the risk of heavy snowfall.
According to the Commission, ballots will be airlifted to Manang, Mustang, Humla, Mugu, and Dolpa, where geographical remoteness and winter weather conditions make ground transportation unreliable.
The EC said that in Humla, Dolpa, and Mugu, not only ballot papers but also other essential election materials will be delivered by helicopter. The Commission aims to complete the transportation of ballots and election supplies to all Himalayan districts within the first week of Falgun.
Election officials said the airlift plan is part of broader logistical preparations to ensure timely and secure delivery of sensitive election materials across the country.
“These districts face extreme logistical challenges due to terrain and seasonal snowfall. Air transport is the most reliable option to ensure ballots reach polling centers on time,” the Commission said.
The EC said ballot papers for the 165 first-past-the-post constituencies will be printed separately, as each constituency will have a different ballot. For the proportional representation (PR) system, however, the same ballot will be used nationwide.
A total of 63 political parties are registered for the proportional system, but due to joint election symbols used by some parties, only 57 election symbols will appear on the PR ballot paper, according to the Commission.
The Commission said it had issued a public notice on Poush 17 calling for helicopter companies to be listed for the transportation of ballots and election materials to Himalayan districts. However, no helicopter company has submitted an application so far, raising concerns about timely contracting.
Despite this, the EC said alternative arrangements are being explored to avoid delays in ballot delivery.
For non-Himalayan districts, the Commission has finalized logistics through multiple channels. Two courier companies have been selected to transport election materials, while 11 companies have been listed for transportation by truck.
The Election Commission said it is intensifying coordination with logistics providers and security agencies to ensure that all election materials are delivered safely and within the stipulated timeframe.
With less than a month remaining before polling day, the Commission said completing logistics in challenging regions remains a top priority to ensure a free, fair, and timely election across the country.
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