The Carter Center, which monitors elections globally, has approached the Election Commission Nepal for possible observation of the upcoming polls.

The local level elections are scheduled to be held in Province 2 on September 18 while polls for provincial and federal parliaments need to be conducted by January 21, 2018. The EC has proposed holding both the provincial and federal parliamentary elections as well as the vote for National Assembly by the third week of November, in view of an adverse winter weather in the mountainous region. The Carter Center has asked for time to discuss the prospects of poll observation, two election officials told the Post. “We will probably meet the Center’s delegation early next week.”

The EC had denied the Center permission to observe the local elections when it applied formally in March for inspecting the local, provincial and federal elections.

The EC has said it has no policy of allowing foreign organisations to observe the local elections. But observers from foreign diplomatic missions were allowed to go round a few cities with a limited mandate. EC officials said they are ready to allow international observers during the elections to the provincial assemblies and the House of Representatives.

The Center had monitored the Constituent Assembly elections in 2008 and 2013.