Kathmandu, Nepal, November 22, 2022: As the November 20 federal and provincial assembly election registered just 61 percent voter turnout, questions are being raised over the performance of the political parties for failing to lure the people in a democratic process.
The Election Commission (EC) has presented its preliminary report that the turnout is about 61 percent voter turnout on Sunday’s election stating that it could rise by one or two percentage points after final figures are received.
Though a total of 17,988,570 people were eligible to vote in the elections, only 61 percent casted their votes. The turnout is about 7 percent below than 2017 national elections and 8 than the 2013 elections.
The frustration of the voters for forging electoral alliance among the parties is taken as a major reason behind the lower turnout. However, about 72 percent was turnout during the May 13 local level election.
Possible clashes and vandalism would be another reason behind the lower turnout though Sunday’s election remained peaceful in comparison of the previous elections. Only two persons lost their lives due to the election related violence in Bajura district. Clashes and vandalism had occurred in Rautahat, Siraha, Chitwan, Dolakha, Bajura and Humla districts.
Elections were disrupted at as many as 15 polling stations including in 12 polling station of Bajura district and each in Surkhet, Nawalparasi East and Gulmi district. New elections are being held on Tuesday in the polling centers.
A total of 11,543 candidates are in the fray for the first-past-the-post and proportional representation elections for the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies. However, the higher number of contesting candidates failed to attract higher number of voters.
