Kathmandu: The Election Commission has officially approved the schedule for the House of Representatives election, set to take place on March 5, 2026. This announcement marks a significant step in the country’s democratic process as it outlines the timeline and procedures leading up to the election.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the approved schedule details the registration of political parties, which will occur from November 17 to 26. A press release issued by the Commission’s Secretary and Spokesperson, Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, confirms that the Election Officer’s office will be established on January 16 to facilitate the first-past-the-post election system.
The press release further details that election campaigning is slated to run from February 15 to March 2, with a prohibition on campaign activities immediately following this period. Voting will take place on March 5 from 7 am to 5 pm, with vote counting commencing after all ballot boxes from both electoral systems are collected.
For the proportional election system, the Commission will establish the Office of the Election Officer on December 1, 2025, with the closed list of proportional candidates to be submitted on January 2 and 3, 2026. The Commission emphasizes the importance of coordination with political parties and stakeholders, stating that consultations will occur periodically in alignment with the approved election schedule.
The Election Commission has reminded stakeholders that, in accordance with legal provisions, only political parties registered with the commission are eligible to register for election purposes. Therefore, parties wishing to participate must obtain their political party registration certificate by November 16.