The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked its subordinate units to submit transportation and mobility plans focusing more on hilly areas where geographical ruggedness and erratic weather make delivery of ballot boxes and papers hard. These natural barriers also affect the mobility of election officers.

The ministry has asked the district administration offices across the country to forward their plans so that the Centre can facilitate air transportation and employ other means to safely ferry the officials, ballot papers and boxes to the polling centres and stations and to bring them back after the vote. “Transporting ballot boxes and papers is a sensitive task that the district units handle. We want to ensure that everything goes smoothly,” said Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi, spokesperson for the Home Ministry.

Transportation of these poll essentials, before and after the vote, is led by the Nepal Army. Other security agencies including the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force provide the Army support. The first phase of federal and provincial elections under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) category is scheduled to take place on November 26 in 32 districts while the second-phase election will be held on December 7.

In Rasuwa district, for instance, Langtang and Simmandi polling centres need to be supplied by air. “We hope to transport the ballot boxes and papers by road to these two stations. However, we might need helicopters while bringing them back,” said Hira Devi Poudel, Chief District Officer of Rasuwa. There are 34 polling stations and 45 polling centres in Rasuwa.

In Solukhumbu, three rural municipalities including Sotang, Khumbu Pasang-lhamu and Likhu Pikey are considered tough for transporting ballot boxes and papers. 

CDO Bhupendra Thapa said it takes at least three to four days for one to reach the district headquarters from these villages. “This extended travel time poses a serious security risk while bringing ballot boxes back,” said Thapa.

There are 23 polling stations in Dudhkosika; 10 polling stations in Khumbu Pasanglhamu; seven in Likhu Pickey and 10 polling stations in Sotang rural municipalities.

The Home Ministry said it will discuss the matter with the EC. “We are yet to get transportation plans from all the districts,” said Spokesperson Duwadi. There are a total of 10,666 polling stations across the country.