Kathmandu: The National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) has announced that it will mobilize more than 1,300 trained observers across the country to monitor the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 (Falgun 21).
Issuing a press statement, NEOC said it is making final preparations to deploy observers in all 77 districts and 165 electoral constituencies to ensure that the election is conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and fear-free environment.
As part of its monitoring efforts, the organization will conduct orientation programs at the central level, in all seven provinces, and across the 77 districts. The objective is to assess whether the entire electoral process adheres to democratic principles, human rights standards, inclusiveness, and existing election laws and codes of conduct.
NEOC has formulated a phased plan to mobilize both short-term and long-term observers. Long-term observers will be engaged in continuous monitoring from the pre-election phase through vote counting and the publication of final results. In addition, around 150 central and senior observers will be deployed in the Kathmandu Valley and other polling stations identified as sensitive.
During the observation process, NEOC will assess the roles played by key stakeholders, including the Election Commission of Nepal, the Government of Nepal, political parties, security agencies, candidates, media, civil society, and voters in maintaining the credibility of the election.
The monitoring will also focus on voter registration, voter education, compliance with the code of conduct, campaign financing, security arrangements, the use of social media, and polling management.
Concluding the statement, NEOC urged all national and international stakeholders to uphold international electoral standards, constitutional and legal provisions, and democratic values to ensure that the election is conducted peacefully, independently, fairly, and with dignity.
