Nepal Election 2026 Live Updates: Nepal Voter Turnout Reaches 18% By Noon

Voter turnout in Nepal’s parliamentary elections reached approximately 18 percent by noon on Thursday, the Election Commission reported.

Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said that a total of 3,163,736 ballots had been cast across the country by 12 p.m.

Voting at the Malu polling centre in Ward 4 of Tamakoshi Rural Municipality in Dolakha was temporarily halted after a dispute over the seating arrangement of candidate representatives escalated, leading to an attempted assault on polling staff, according to the Kathmandu Post.

Police fired a warning shot to bring the situation under control. Authorities said efforts are ongoing to restore order and resume voting, while a meeting of all parties is being held to resolve the issue.

Nepal saw a voter turnout of around six percent by 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, as the country held its first general election since last year’s violent Gen Z protests that toppled the government led by KP Sharma Oli, the Election Commission reported.

Voters began arriving at polling stations across all 165 constituencies under tight security to cast their ballots in this pivotal election.

Nepal’s Election Commission reported that voting is proceeding smoothly across the country as nationwide polls opened on Thursday. Election Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said there have been no disruptions so far and that the electoral process is being conducted securely.

Voters are arriving at polling stations in an orderly manner. Polling is taking place in all 77 districts from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in a single phase, with officials deployed to ensure security and facilitate voter convenience.

Sachin Timalsena, a candidate of the Nepali Congress from Kathmandu Constituency No. 4, said that initial doubts about whether the elections would be conducted fairly have largely been addressed. He acknowledged that there were some concerns regarding security but added that the polling process has been conducted smoothly so far.

Timalsena expressed confidence that the Nepali Congress would emerge victorious, saying voters have begun to see the party as a reformed organisation. According to him, people have responded positively to the changes within the party and are supporting the Nepali Congress in the ongoing elections.

Gagan Thapa, the prime ministerial candidate of the Nepali Congress, cast his vote at the polling station at Maiti Devi Mandir, Kathmandu during Nepal General Elections 2026.

Nepal’s interim leader Sushila Karki called for peaceful elections on Thursday, the first polls since deadly 2025 anti-corruption protests toppled the government.

“Every vote is important in determining our future,” the 73-year-old former chief justice, who came out of retirement to lead the South Asian nation, said in a statement, AFP reported.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding, for ensuring a peaceful election.”

Hundreds of thousands of people have left Nepal’s cities to return to their home villages to vote and reunite with family. The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division said around 800,000 people had exited the Kathmandu Valley by Wednesday morning, the Kathmandu Post reported.

“More people are expected to head back to their home districts for the elections,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Jung Shah. “Seeing so many people return home with their families feels like a major festival.”

Officials noted that such a mass movement is usually seen only during Dashain, the country’s biggest festival.

A voter in Nepal said, “We want a good candidate to win, we support our young generation… The main issue in Nepal is political instability and we want stability and the issue of corruption to be resolved.”

Another voter said, “I hope that whoever wins, plays a significant role in the development of Nepal and enhancing the life situations of every citizen,” news agency ANI reported.

Popularly known as Balen Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu, has emerged as a youth icon after widespread anti-corruption protests last September that targeted the administration of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli.

Shah is contesting from the Jhapa-5 constituency in eastern Nepal, where he is directly challenging Oli, who was forced from office following the deadly youth-led unrest. At 35, Shah is among the most high-profile candidates in this election and is widely seen as a potential contender for the prime minister’s post.

Former mayor and rapper Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, cast his vote at the Annapurna Vinayak School polling centre during Nepal’s 2026 general election.

The Election Commission of Nepal has ordered a ban on the movement of all public and private vehicles from midnight on March 4 until the conclusion of voting on March 5 as part of heightened security arrangements for the parliamentary elections, the Kathmandu Post reported.

Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said the restriction was imposed following a decision by the high-level election security committee formed under Section 3 of the Election Security (Management) Directive, 2021, to ensure peaceful and orderly polling for the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5.

Voting in Nepal will end at 5:00 pm on Thursday. However, counting ballots under the proportional representation system is likely to take more time, which means the final results may not be declared immediately.

Analysts believe the election is unlikely to deliver a clear majority for any single party. While full results could take several days to be announced, the process may stretch even longer if post-election negotiations to form a coalition government prove complex.

Polling began on Thursday in Nepal for the country’s general elections, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests brought down the government, according to AFP.

Nearly 19 million voters are casting their ballots to decide who will replace the interim administration that has been in power since the September 2025 uprising. Voting is scheduled to conclude at 5:00 pm.