Election authorities in Dolpa have begun collecting details of voters from Upper Dolpa who have moved to lower regions and urban centres to escape the harsh winter, amid concerns that many may miss the March 5 polls.

The process targets voters from Shey Phoksundo, Dolpobuddha and Chharka Tangsong rural municipalities, who typically migrate during winter for warmer weather, medical treatment and other necessities. With the onset of winter, a significant number of residents from Upper Dolpa relocate to lower Dolpa and cities, raising fears over voter participation.

Dil Krishna Shrestha, an official at Dolpa district election office, said that the local representatives are skeptical about the participation of the seasonal migrant voters in the upcoming election.

“Some representatives had formally requested a postponement of the polling date, warning that voters staying in lowland and urban areas could be deprived of their voting rights,” he said.

A meeting chaired by Chief District Officer Junu Dhakal, with the participation of all stakeholders concerned, decided to collect detailed information within a week on residents who have left the three municipalities. Officials have also asked for updates on the condition of polling centres and have already deployed staff for the task.

Schools in Upper Dolpa remain closed from October to April due to extreme cold, and many polling centres are located in school buildings. Authorities said coordination would be needed in advance to manage polling arrangements. Once details are collected, discussions will be held with relevant agencies to determine how to facilitate the return of winter migrants for voting.

Upper Dolpa is still not connected to the national road network, with journeys from the district headquarters Dunai taking between three days and a week on foot. Heavy snowfall from November often blocks trails until March, severely restricting movement.

Chairpersons of Dolpobuddha and Chharka Tangsong rural municipalities had issued statements two weeks ago demanding a change in the election date. Local representatives warn that holding elections nationwide on a single date could result in 20 to 25 percent of Upper Dolpa voters being excluded.

Security officials said conducting elections at the 23 polling centres in Upper Dolpa as scheduled would be challenging, leaving helicopter transport as the only viable option.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Ruk Bahadur Khadka, of district police office, Dolpa, recalled that a temporary police personnel died from altitude sickness during the 2022 local elections while travelling on foot. He said staff would need to be airlifted several days in advance to acclimatise, with at least one health worker deployed at each polling centre.

Dolpa has a total of 24,256 registered voters, including 1,000 new voters, and 68 polling centres across the district.