The Election Commission is preparing to conduct the upcoming House of Representatives election without imposing a ban on vehicle movement on polling day.
Speaking at a discussion held at the Commission on Tuesday, Election Commissioner Sagun Shamsher Jabra shared details about the election preparations. He said that in previous elections, vehicle movement was restricted due to concerns that political parties might transport unnecessary people, but this time the Commission is preparing to hold the election without shutting down transportation services.
Jabra argued that in many countries around the world, elections are not conducted by closing down transportation systems, and Nepal is also moving forward in line with that practice.
He said, “We are in favor of not imposing restrictions on vehicle movement even on election day this time. In the past, we decided to restrict transportation because of fears that people would be transported unnecessarily. However, elections are not held by shutting down transportation anywhere in the world. That practice has not been applicable in our context. At the local level, political parties and candidates can also make arrangements to take voters to polling stations. But the Election Commission itself is not in a position to operate buses to provide services to persons with disabilities and others.”
He clarified that while political parties and candidates at the local level can arrange transportation for voters to reach polling stations, the Election Commission does not have the capacity to directly operate transport services, including buses, to assist persons with disabilities and other voters.
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