The Election Commission (EC) has approved 141 polling centres for temporary voters to cast their ballots under the proportional representation system in the November 20 polls.

The voting centres have been designated for employees and security personnel whose names are included in the final temporary voter roll but are not deployed at polling centres, people in old age homes and prisoners except those sentenced for election-related crimes to vote for the proportional representation system for the House of Representatives seats.

The temporary voters will not be allowed to cast ballots for the first-past-the-post candidates and provincial assemblies.

The commission said it has made arrangements for the staff and security personnel assigned to the polling centre to vote from the centre they are deployed.

The provision for temporary voters is being implemented for the first time after Nepal promulgated a new constitution in 2015.

In July, the Supreme Court had issued an order to the government to make arrangements for government employees, security personnel and prisoners so that they can vote during the upcoming polls. A temporary polling booth will be set up on the premises of the district prison for the first time to give an opportunity for the prisoners to cast their vote.

As per the Electoral Roll Act 2073 BS, the election commission may prepare a temporary voter list that includes employees working at the local level of the Nepal government, provincial governments, Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, detainees and prisoners, election staff and security personnel and people in old age homes so that they cast their votes for the House of Representatives under the proportional representation system.