Nepal’s Upcoming Election: High-Risk Context Demands Robust Security ________________Nepal’s upcoming House of Representatives (HOR) election on March 5th is increasingly treated as a high-risk context, prompting the government and security agencies to undertake extensive preparations. Authorities are treating this election with heightened caution to avoid any potential security challenges that could disrupt the voting process and affect public confidence in the polls.The government has classified 3,680 of the country’s 10,967 polling stations as “highly sensitive,” reflecting concerns over political tensions and local vulnerabilities. Of the remaining polling stations, 2,845 have been categorized as “normal” in terms of security risk, while 4,442 have been designated as “sensitive.” These classifications are based on a range of factors, including historical conflicts, demographic challenges, and the accessibility of security personnel. The polling stations are usually designated as highly sensitive if they are conflict-prone, difficult to access, or have experienced disturbances in the past. In total, 337,911 security personnel are being mobilized from all 4 security agencies, as per the Home Ministry. In line with these assessments, the Nepal Armed Police has temporarily suspended resignations, transfers, and leave across all offices of the Armed Police Force Nepal, ensuring that maximum personnel are available to support election security. Simultaneously, the Nepal Army is being mobilized on an unprecedented scale, with 79,729 personnel deployed to support other security personnel in maintaining order and ensuring peaceful voting. The army is being deployed from barracks a month ahead of the election. Joint teams of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and election police (Myadi) are also being deployed. We believe that this election could face both conventional and unconventional security threats. The higher number of “sensitive” polling stations increases the potential for localized incidents. Many weapons looted from security personnel during last September’s demonstrations still remain unrecovered, and thousands of absconded prisoners are still at large. This has added to the anxiety among political parties and stakeholders. Therefore, ensuring a smooth electoral process will also depend on the behavior of political actors, the responsiveness of security agencies, and public adherence to democratic norms. Thus, the credibility of this election depends on a robust security chain that extends from voters’ confidence and access to polling stations to the protection of election officials, ballot papers, and ballot boxes, as well as the counting and announcement of results. Finally, early security risk assessments, coupled with rapid and decisive action by security forces, are critical to keeping emerging threats under control. | | | Vote with Any One of 6 Government Documents
The Election Commission has clarified that voters who have lost or do not possess their voter ID card can still vote in the upcoming election, by presenting any one of six government-issued identification documents at the polling station, provided their name appears on the official voters’ list. Accepted documents include Nepali citizenship certificate, national identity card, passport, driving license, and land ownership certificate.
Election Preparations Underway
The Election Commission has begun printing ballot papers for the upcoming HoR election, with about six million first-past-the-post (FTTP) ballots already printed for 55 of the 165 constituencies. The printing is being done under tight security by the Nepali Army at Janak Education Material Centre in Bhaktapur, and all ballots, including proportional representation ones, are expected to be completed by February 23, after which distribution to districts will start. ECN Signs MoU with TikTok to combat Election Misinformation
The Election Commission of Nepal has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with TikTok in a proactive effort to curb misinformation ahead of the upcoming House of Representatives election, and as part of MoU, TikTok has committed support free of charge to assist in preventing misuse of its platform during the election. Code of Conduct Clarification Notices Issued to Certain Candidates
The Election Commission has been actively enforcing the Election Code of Conduct, seeking clarifications from numerous candidates, parties, officials and organizations after complaints of violations, including hate speech, misuse of campaign materials, and exceeding allowed numbers at nomination events. Notices have been issued to candidates and leaders from different parties for various alleged breaches as part of the Commission’s effort to ensure compliance ahead of the polls, with authorities also arresting Durga Prasai in connection with alleged election-related misconduct. Women Candidates Face Online Abuse and Misogyny
Women contesting the March 5 elections in Nepal are facing intense scrutiny and abuse online, often focused on their bodies, age, health, or reproductive status rather than their vision or agenda. In addition to the political parties fielding very few women candidates, societal attitudes continue to treat women as electoral liabilities rather than legitimate leaders. This points to persistent barriers to meaningful gender inclusion in electoral politics. | | | This weekly newsletter is jointly produced by ‘Accountability Lab Nepal’ and ‘Digital Rights Nepal’ to provide meaningful information to counter misinformation and common misconceptions regarding Nepal’s 2026 House of Representatives Election. It aims to promote electoral integrity and enable informed citizenry by delivering non-partisan, evidence-based analysis, and rights-oriented perspective. It does not endorse or oppose any political party or candidates. The data presented here is synthesized from diverse credible sources, including government agencies, international organizations, news media, social platforms, and our extensive local networks. We select the topics based on their prevalence, relevance, and potential societal impact, ensuring all information is accurate and verified at the time of publication. | | | | |
