Preparations Intensify as Election Commission Sets Key Dates for March 5 Polls

The Election Commission has laid out a detailed schedule to streamline preparations for the upcoming House of Representatives election on March 5 (Falgun 21).

Voter registration and updates will continue until November 15 (Kartik 30). Political parties must secure their registration certificates by the same date, while parties planning to contest can officially register between November 16 and 25 (Mangsir 1–10), after which they can nominate candidates.

The finalized election schedule will be published in the Nepal Gazette on November 25 (Mangsir 10). Updates to the voter list will run from November 16 to December 30 (Mangsir 1–Poush 15), and the proportional representation office will be established on November 30 (Mangsir 15). Polling stations and centers will be declared in the Gazette by December 30 (Poush 15).

Closed lists for proportional representation will be submitted on January 2–3 (Poush 18–19), with flexibility for revisions if needed. Election offices will open on January 16 (Magh 2), and the Joint Election Operation Center alongside the Police Communication Unit will operate from January 16 to March 13 (Magh 2–Falgun 30).

The official 15-day campaign period will run from February 16 to March 4 (Falgun 4–18), with ballot papers sent to districts by February 24 (Falgun 12). Campaigning will cease at midnight on March 4, ahead of voting on March 5, from 7 AM to 5 PM.

The Commission says the timeline is designed to ensure smooth, transparent, and well-organized elections nationwide.