Ten civil society organisations have concluded that the House of Representatives election held on March 5 was largely peaceful, orderly and relatively free and fair, despite some shortcomings.

At a joint press meet in Kathmandu on Friday, the groups said the vote was conducted in a fair environment despite a lower turnout, calling it a positive sign for democratic practice.

The organisations said minor issues were reported in some places, but no major disruptions occurred. They said the Election Commission and the government played an effective role in preparation, security and polling centre management.

The organisations included the NGO Federation Nepal, Nepal Voters’ Rights Forum, Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), Democracy Resource Centre Nepal, Youth in Federal Discourse, Yuwalaya, Youth Advocacy Nepal, Forum for Women, Law and Development, Women Service Institute and Nepal Samahuk Aawan

Arjun Bhattarai, president of the NGO Federation Nepal, said around 1,550 trained observers were deployed across all seven provinces and 77 districts, including mobile teams in sensitive areas.

He said the report, based on pre-election and post-election observation, will be submitted to the Election Commission. “We have highlighted both strengths and weaknesses and will provide recommendations to improve future elections,” he said.

The report identified weak voter education as a major concern, noting a lack of materials in nearly half of polling centres, which contributed to a high number of invalid votes. It also cited incidents where observers were obstructed from entering polling stations or carrying essential materials, and occasional disputes with officials.

While incidents related to the election security were reported, they did not affect the overall process, the report said. However, some polling centres in Darchula, Dang and Okhaldhunga recorded zero votes.

The report also pointed to errors in voter rolls, failure to remove campaign materials and the spread of misinformation on social media. Many polling centres were found to be inaccessible, making it difficult for elderly voters and people with disabilities.

The organisations recommended strengthening voter education, improving coordination among security agencies and ensuring disability-friendly polling stations. They also called for stricter enforcement of the code of conduct.

The report stressed the need to update voter rolls, develop online systems and introduce legal reforms to enable voting for Nepalis outside their home districts and abroad. It also urged exploring digital voting options.