'Election materials to be dispatched to districts from Friday'
KATHMANDU, April 21: The Election Commission (EC) has completed printing of ballot papers for all 75 districts as part of its final preparations to conduct the local elections on May 14 as announced by the government. The election body has already completed printing the voter ID and voter roll.
"We are currently laminating the voter ID cards. Printing of ballot papers, voter ID and voter roll have been completed," election commissioner Narendra Dahal told Republica.
Printing of ballot papers, voter ID cards completed: EC
Ballot papers were printed at the state-run Janak Shikshya Samagri Kendra Limited while private firms have printed voter roll and voter ID at the Election Commision's head office. Poll workers are now busy packing election logistics including the ballot papers for dispatch across the country.
The election body is awaiting establishment of the offices of returning officers in the local units for sending election logistics. Although the offices of the chief returning officers have been set up in all 75 districts, the offices for returning officers have yet to be set up. These offices are expected to be set up in all 744 units by Tuesday.
"The returning officers' offices will start their work from Tuesday, but we will start dispatching the election logistics to the district headquarters from Friday itself," said Dahal.
Helicopters will be used to transport ballot papers and election materials to remote districts whereas trucks will be used to transport the materials to other districts. According to election officials, Nepal Army will transport ballot papers and other sensitive materials.
The election body has already arranged 67-types of materials required for conducting the elections. "We are in the final stages in terms of preparing for the local elections. Electioneering activities will intensify from April 29 when the political parties officially field their candidates," said the commissioner.
The EC will finalize the names of the election candidates three days after their nomination by the parties.
