Nepal election records lowest turnout and local boycotts

Nepal’s latest polls for the House of Representatives concluded peacfully on Thursday, following months of uncertainty and speculation. The country went to snap elections after the September protest, which led to the dissolution of its lower house.

Despite what was seen as a historic moment amid uncertainty, voter participation remained lowest, with around 11.34 million voters casting votes out of total 18.9 million registered voters, resulting in a 60% turnout, as stated by the Election Commission (EC) based on their preliminary estimates. 

The current turnout means that voting participation has steadily declined over the last few elections. The turnout was 68.7% in 2017, which fell to 61% in 2022, with municipal elections slightly higher (65%). In the 2013 Constituent Assembly elections, voter turnout was recorded at 78.3%. The latest turnout makes it the least participated election in Nepal’s recent history.

Several factors are considered to have contributed to the turnout. Large outmigration meant that a significant portion of registered voters were not physically present in their home constituencies on election day. The lack of mail-in or online voting options prevented an estimated four million Nepalis living abroad and a large number of voters living in a different area than their registered place of voting, from voting.

Many migrants returning from West Asia with plans to to cast votes were unable to reach their constituencies in time due to flight cancellations and rerouting caused by ongoing regional conflict, further limiting voter participation.

There are also arguments that public apathy and distrust toward the overall political system, marked by corruption, political instability, and unfulfilled promises, also contributed significantly to the low turnout.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, on the other hand, said that the low turnout in the latest election was partly due to the absence of booth capture this election, which may have contributed to higher turnout in previous elections. 

Voters boycott polls

Local boycotts were also reported in several voting stations of districts such as Dolakha, Okhaldhunga, Dang, and Darchula, as voters voiced frustration over stalled development, security concerns, and the failure of political leaders to address public grievances. In Darchula, two polling stations recorded no voters.

For instance, according to reports, no one voted from Malaikhola-7 of Dang which has 530 registered voters. Residents boycotted the vote to protest the government’s failure to relocate their settlements from the buffer zone of Banke National Park, where they face frequent threats from wild animals.

Although leaders had promised to address the issue during the 2022 election, the demands were not fulfilled, prompting the community to collectively enforce zero voting this time.

When will the vote counting finish?

The EC expects to release first-past-the-post (FPTP) results within 24 hours of completing ballot collection, likely between March 7 and 8, although delays may occur in remote areas and areas where vote counting began late due to disruptions.