Voting to elect a new government in Nepal concluded peacefully on Thursday, as polling stations across the country closed and ballot boxes were sealed.
This is the first Parliamentary election in the Himalayan nation with 30 million people since the violent Gen Z-led protest that ousted the previous KP Sharma Oli-led government last year.
As per reports, polling officials completed the process of sealing ballot boxes at the stations following the end of voting hours at 5 pm (local time).
Nepal’s Election Commission said its preliminary estimates suggest a 60% voter turnout in the polls. “Our preliminary assessment is that around 60% of votes were cast,” said Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari during a press conference this evening.
The commission said polls concluded peacefully, barring some sporadic incidents in a few locations.
This high-stakes electoral process took place in a single phase across all 77 districts, with polling commencing at 7 am to elect the 275-member House of Representatives.
The 2026 General Elections are seen as a crucial juncture for the Himalayan nation, with high-level leaders across the political spectrum mobilising to exercise their franchise and lead their respective party campaigns.
Also Read: Nepal polls: Young voters take centre stage; women largely missing from direct contest
In total, 275 seats in the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Federal Parliament, are being filled, according to International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
As many as 3,406 candidates are vying for 165 seats under direct voting, while another 3,135 candidates are in the fray for 110 seats through proportionate voting.
There are a total of 10,967 polling booths and 23,112 polling centres, according to Nepal’s Election Commission data. As many as 65 political parties are taking part in the election.
