Nepal recorded a 58.07 per cent voter turnout in the House of Representatives elections held across the country, according to preliminary figures from the Election Commission. While voting took place largely peacefully, the turnout marks the lowest participation rate since the restoration of democracy in 1991.
Polling was conducted nationwide with only a few isolated incidents of clashes and disputes reported in districts such as Dolakha, Sarlahi and Rautahat. At a polling station in Tamakoshi Rural Municipality of Dolakha, police fired warning shots after party cadres clashed, temporarily halting voting before it resumed later in the day. In Sarlahi’s Balara, voting was briefly delayed due to disagreements at the polling centre.
Election officials described the polls as a significant achievement given the political climate. The vote was the first national election held after the September Gen Z movement, which triggered major political upheaval.
Election observers and monitoring bodies reported that the overall process was conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner. Both national and international observer groups said polling day proceeded smoothly across most parts of the country and met acceptable democratic standards. The Election Commission confirmed that no repolling was required anywhere, a rare outcome in Nepal’s electoral history.
Despite the smooth process, turnout fell below recent election averages. Since the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections, voter participation has averaged around 69 per cent, with the highest turnout recorded in 2013 at over 78 per cent.
Observers say several factors may have contributed to the lower turnout. Internal party dissatisfaction, migration abroad, and urban residents not returning to their home constituencies were cited as key reasons. Some analysts also pointed to signs of voter fatigue.