The Election Commission has said it has completed preparations for the presidential election scheduled for Thursday.

According to election commission officials, the voting will be held from 10am to 3pm at the New Baneshwar-based parliament building.

Election officer Mahesh Sharma Poudel said the voters will not be allowed to carry devices barred by the laws to the voting centres.

“The security personnel will conduct necessary security checks. Taking any devices prohibited by the law including mobile phones is not allowed,” said Poudel.

Poudel said two voting centres, one each for federal and provincial lawmakers, have been arranged for the voting, adding necessary employees have been deployed.

The commission plans to start vote counting at 4pm at Annapurna Sky Hall and declare the final results by 7pm.

The election of the President is held based on a weighted voting system.

A total of 884 members make up the electoral college, including 275 members of the House of Representatives, 59 of the National Assembly and 550 of the seven provincial assemblies. It means, there will be a total weightage of 52,786 votes in the electoral college, if no seat in the federal parliament and provincial assembly is vacant. A candidate must secure a majority of the total votes to secure the top post.

A total of 881 lawmakers will cast their vote in the upcoming presidential election if no one abstains.

Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel and CPN-UML vice-chair Subas Nembang are in the presidential race.