As the House of Representatives election is just three weeks away, concerns are mounting over potentially low voter turnout in remote mountain districts due to heavy snowfall and seasonal migration. Authorities estimate that around 30 percent of registered voters in upper Dolpa are currently away from their homes and the possibility of their returning before the polls appear low.

A survey conducted by local authorities shows that more than 1,300 voters from Dolpo Buddha, Chharka Tangsong and Shey-Phoksundo rural municipalities are away, accounting for around one-third of the total registered voters in upper Dolpa, the country’s biggest and one of the remotest district in Karnali province.

Dilkrishna Shrestha, the district election officer in Dolpa, said the assessment was carried out after local representatives repeatedly informed authorities that many residents had migrated during winter and were unable to return due to heavy snowfall. “Representatives from the local units informed us both verbally and in writing that many voters were outside and foot trails have been blocked by snow. Based on that, a survey was conducted through designated local contacts,” said Shrestha.

Elected representatives in the local units fear that a significant number of voters may miss the election unless special arrangements are made. Pema Wangchhen Gurung, vice-chairperson of Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality, said many residents had moved to lower-altitude areas to escape the extreme cold, while others had travelled to cities such as Nepalgunj and Kathmandu for work. “Repeated snowfall has closed all routes back to the villages. Even those willing to return for voting are unable to travel,” Gurung said, adding that voters have been expressing frustration at the prospect of having to miss voting in the crucial elections.

Local politicians from upper Dolpa have urged the government to postpone the slated parliamentary election in high-altitude mountain districts or to arrange helicopter transport for voters if polls must be held simultaneously across the country on March 5.

Dolpa’s Chief District Officer Junu Dhakal said her office is discussing the issue with the Election Commission and other concerned authorities. “Around 70 percent of voters remain in upper Dolpa, while about 30 percent are outside according to preliminary data,” she said, attributing the situation mainly to geographical difficulties caused by snowfall.

Security teams have already inspected 29 polling centres in lower Dolpa and reported no major challenges. Upper Dolpa’s three rural municipalities together have 4,366 registered voters, though local representatives claim the number of absent voters could be higher than survey estimates.

Similar concerns have been reported in other high mountain districts in recent weeks. Heavy snowfall and seasonal migration often leave many Himalayan settlements partially deserted during winter, raising fears that turnout could drop sharply as voters remain stranded away from their registered polling stations.

Humla local unit urges government to clear snow

Voters from Namkha Rural Municipality in Humla district are facing mounting difficulties returning to their villages to participate in the parliamentary election, as heavy snowfall continues to block key mountain routes.

Ward 6 of Namkha Rural Municipality has formally requested the government to immediately clear snow from trails, warning that many voters who migrated to lower areas during winter may otherwise be unable to cast their ballots. According to the ward office, thick snow has obstructed the route at Nyalu pass, located at an altitude of around 5,200 metres above sea level, preventing residents from travelling back home.

In a letter sent to the District Election Office in Humla, the ward office demanded that the trail be reopened without delay or polling in the area be postponed to a later phase. “Many voters from Namkha-6 are currently outside the district. We request the authorities to create an environment where voters can return safely by clearing the trail,” reads the letter.

Limi Valley, which lies at Namkha Rural Municipality’s ward 6, has three villages—Jang, Halji and Til. There are a total of 672 registered voters across three polling stations in Limi. Namkha’s ward 6 chairman Paljor Tamang said that most voters from the area had moved to warmer locations such as Kathmandu, Surkhet and Nepalgunj to escape the harsh winter, while some had travelled to India for employment. “If the situation remains unchanged, there is little possibility of votes being cast in Namkha. The government must clear snow from Nara and Nyalu passes or arrange to hold voting in a later phase,” he demanded.

People’s representatives argue that the issue reflects the broader challenges of conducting elections in high Himalayan districts during winter, where snowfall and difficult terrain routinely isolate settlements for weeks.

Box item

HED: PM visits Solukhumbu, rules out poll postponement in mountain districts

Bhanubhakta Niraula

Solukhumbu, FEB 12

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that elections in mountain districts will be held on March 5 as scheduled.

Karki reached Namche and later Salleri of Solukhumbu district by helicopter on Thursday morning to assess preparations for the House of Representatives elections. After meeting stakeholders at the District Coordination Committee, she told journalists that the polls would be conducted in a single phase on the announced date.

She urged the public not to doubt the schedule and said the government was prepared to ensure security. “The government’s full attention is on holding the elections successfully,” she said, calling on voters to cast their ballots without fear.

Earlier, Karki was welcomed by official including Krishna Prasad Niroula, chief of the District Coordination Committee and Chief District Officer Leela KC Pandey.

During a briefing, Chief District Officer Pandey said there would be no difficulty in conducting the elections on March 5. Pandey said the likelihood of disruption due to snowfall was low, noting that snowfall is uncommon in early March.

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Karki also held interactions with local and government officials in Namche. Her team included Chief Personal Secretary Adarsha Kumar Shrestha and Press Adviser Ram Bahadur Rawal.

Some had suggested postponing the polls, citing potential difficulties in mountain districts due to winter conditions. However, the Election Commission has maintained that the elections will be held on the scheduled date in a single phase.