December 8: The second phase of parliamentary and provincial elections on Thursday remained largely peaceful with encouraging participation from the public. Election Commission’s (EC) preliminary assessment affirms that the voter turnout for the December 7 polls was 67 percent.

According to the commission, only 67 percent of the total 12,235,000 registered voters exercised their voting rights in 45 districts during the second phase election. The EC said that the voter turnout might go up as they are yet to receive reports from few places. The voter turnout in the first phase of the election, held on November 26, was 65 percent.

Gulmi witnessed the highest number of voter turnout with 71 percent voters casting their ballots, EC informed.

Voting was withheld in two polling centers of Arghakhanchi districts due to some disturbances. Election in two polling centers at Mathura Lower Secondary School in Sandhikharka Municipality-5 was postponed after political parties vandalized ballot boxes accusing ballot papers lacking election officer’s signature. Re-election will be held in the two centers within a few days, said the EC.

During a post-election press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav asserted that Nepalese people’s enthusiastic participation in the elections displays their determination to execute the new constitution, institutionalize federal democratic republic setup and maintain political stability in the country.