Nepal's 18.9 Million Voters Begin Polling for 275-Seat House of Representatives on Thursday

Nepal began voting in its first general elections since the mass youth-led protests of 2015, with polling stations opening at 7 a.m. on Thursday across the country. According to the Election Commission of Nepal, voter turnout stood at about six per cent by 9:30 a.m., reflecting a relatively slow start to the day’s polling process. The elections come after widespread demonstrations led by young protesters forced the resignation of former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli and led to the dissolution of parliament, triggering fresh national polls.

Voting is scheduled to continue until 5 p.m., with approximately 18.9 million eligible voters expected to participate. Authorities have deployed tight security across polling stations to ensure a smooth and peaceful electoral process. Once voting concludes, ballot boxes will be transported for counting, which is expected to begin immediately afterwards. The election is seen as a crucial moment for the Himalayan nation as it attempts to stabilise its political system following months of political turmoil and public unrest.

Voters are electing representatives to Nepal’s 275-seat House of Representatives of Nepal. Of these seats, 165 will be filled through direct voting in constituencies, while the remaining 110 will be allocated under the proportional representation system. The Election Commission reported that 3,406 candidates are contesting under the direct election system, while another 3,135 candidates are competing for seats through proportional representation lists submitted by political parties.

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The election has largely been framed as a contest between traditional political parties and a new generation of leaders who have emerged from reformist movements. Established forces include the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) led by K. P. Sharma Oli and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) headed by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda. These parties have historically dominated the country’s politics but are now facing growing competition from newer political formations advocating systemic reform.

Among the emerging challengers is the Rastriya Swatantra Party led by Rabi Lamichhane, with former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah playing a prominent role in the campaign. In addition, a reformed faction of the Nepali Congress under Gagan Thapa has also positioned itself as a supporter of the youth-led reform movement that triggered last year’s political upheaval. Analysts say the results will indicate whether voters favour continuity with traditional leadership or shift toward new political voices.

In a notable development on polling day, some constituencies introduced women-led polling stations aimed at promoting gender representation in the election process. In the Bhaktapur-2 constituency, election officer Radhika Suwal said several polling centres in the Madhyapur Thimi municipality were staffed entirely by women, including the security personnel. Officials hope such initiatives will encourage broader participation and demonstrate women’s leadership in managing electoral processes as Nepal moves through a crucial democratic transition.

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