Nepal Elections 2026: Counting to begin shortly, ballot boxes sealed as voting concludes

Nepal chief election commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said 60 % turnout was registered during the voting, citing preliminary estimates, PTI reported

Polling in Nepal has now concluded. As per earlier reports, counting was scheduled to begin after polling ends.

According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, a total of 18,903,689 eligible voters are participating in the election to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives. The 2026 polls have seen a notable demographic shift, with an increase of over 915,000 voters since 2022.

Polling in Nepal has now concluded. As per earlier reports, counting was scheduled to begin after polling ends.

Voting in Nepal began at 7 AM (local time) today and will conclude at 5 PM. Counting will begin immediately after the ballot boxes are collected. Read here

Nepal’s acting chief election commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said there has been huge excitement among the citizens about the election.
“There is huge excitement about this election among the people, and we anticipate the voter turnout to be at least 65%," AP quoted Bhandari as saying.

According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, a total of 18,903,689 eligible voters are participating in the election to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives. The 2026 polls have seen a notable demographic shift, with an increase of over 915,000 voters since 2022.

Former Prime Minister and Prime Ministerial Candidate of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML), KP Sharma Oli, can be seen exercising his right to vote at a polling station, in Bhaktapur on Thursday.

The latest figures of Nepal's Election Commission suggest that around 3.16 million people exercised their franchise till 12 noon.

Nepal's former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, who was ousted in the Gen Z-led protests last September, casted his vote at a polling station in Bhaktapur district, near the capital Kathmandu, BBC reported.

Nepal recorded a turnout of about 10.18 per cent till 11 am, according to the Election Commission.

The EC said that around 1.93 million people have exercised their franchise till 11 am.

Electors stand line up at a polling station in Kathmandu to cast their vote for the parliamentary election on March 5.

Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle said, "Some jostling is expected during elections, but no major issues have arisen. We are ensuring that the voting process remains peaceful throughout the day," PTI reported.

• In Balen Shah's constituency Jhapa 5, nearly 23% of voters have casted their ballot by 10:00 am, election officer Bidur Kumar Karki informed BBC.
• Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa is contesting from Sarlahi district. The situation is peaceful there, election official Binod Prasad Ghimire informed BBC.

Nepal's chief election commissioner, Ram Prasad Bhandari said that he expects voter turnout of above 65%, BBC reported.

Nepal recorded 6% voter turnout till 10:00 pm, according to the country's election commission. More than one million people voted in the early morning hours.

Nepal's Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki was photographed at a polling station, casting her ballot during Nepal's parliamentary election in Kathmandu on March 5.

Nepal’s interim foreign minister Balananda Sharma exuded confidence in 5 March polls, “This election will give us a result,” BBC reported.

Suggesting that the country, the political parties and the people have now come together, she added, “keeping democracy alive in this election is extremely important”.

Former chief justice Sushila Karki, 73, was appointed interim prime minister of Nepal after K P Sharma Oli resigned following Gen Z uprising. Her name was first proposed by thousands of young activists via the online platform Discord.