Ballot printing begins, 150 Nepal Army operations
KATHMANDU: APRIL. 1 – The printing of ballot papers for the local level election on May 13 has begun. Shaligram Sharma Poudel, the spokesperson, stated that a three-day trial will be held to ensure that the election symbol is not printed in accordance with the criteria.
Meanwhile, a commission team led by Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya visited Janak Education Materials Center Limited in Sanothimi to learn about the capacity of ballot paper printing machines and conduct ballot printing tests. Before printing the ballot papers, the machine was tested.
For the upcoming local elections, approximately 20 million ballot papers are being prepared. Previously, ballot papers were printed up to 15% more than the number of voters, but this time the commission will print only 10% more ballot papers. Ballot papers for remote areas will be printed first in some districts as they must be transported by helicopter.
According to commission sources, ballot papers will be printed only after candidates for the Kathmandu Valley metropolitan and municipality have been nominated.
150 Nepal Army operations
The Nepal Army will inspect the entire security when entering the press to print ballot papers. There are no mobile phones available. Documents are not permitted.
After the Nepal Army takes over security, the press staff will be required to follow the army’s security instructions. To protect the printing press, 150 Nepal Army personnel have been deployed. Only a few number of Nepal Police and Armed Police have been mobilized.
The Nepal Army will keep a close eye on all press activities. The army will be watching CCTV. The footage and other security checks will also be kept by the Nepal Army. The high-security body has already gathered information about the center’s security situation.
To print ballot papers within the three-tier security perimeter, a high-security mechanism will be mobilized. The Nepal Army, led by Colonel, will provide security for the first round of ballot paper printing. The center is preparing to print approximately 200,000 ballot papers in 6,743 wards in 200 different types.
