Over 50 Percent of Kathmandu Valley Voters Cast Ballots by 3 PM in Peaceful National Election

Nepal votes for the House of Representatives. Koshi Province leads with 58% turnout, while Kathmandu Valley surpasses 50% participation by mid-afternoon on election day.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 6:00 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Kathmandu Post

Voter Participation Surges in Kathmandu Valley by Mid-Afternoon

By 3 pm on Thursday, over 51 percent of registered voters in the Kathmandu Valley had successfully cast their ballots for the House of Representatives election. Official data from the Election Commission reveals that 624,934 votes were recorded across the Valley’s 15 constituencies, out of a total pool of 1,185,374 registered voters. This surge in participation reflects a significant engagement from the capital's urban population as the country decides its next legislative assembly. Polling stations across the three districts of the Valley reported steady queues, with election officials noting a largely orderly process throughout the morning and early afternoon hours.

Koshi Province Leads National Turnout Figures

Preliminary provincial data indicates that Koshi Province currently holds the highest level of voter engagement in the country, recording a 58 percent turnout by the 3 pm mark. With 1,359,816 votes cast from a registered base of over 3.5 million, the province has set the pace for the rest of the nation. Following closely are Madhesh Province at 54 percent and Bagmati Province (excluding the capital valley) at 53 percent. These figures suggest robust participation in the eastern and central plains, despite the logistical challenges often associated with large-scale national polling in these regions.

Varying Participation Rates Across Western Provinces

While eastern provinces showed high activity, the western regions of Nepal reported more moderate turnout figures by the mid-afternoon update. Gandaki Province recorded a 41 percent participation rate, while Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces reported 42 percent and 43 percent respectively. Lumbini Province saw approximately 38 percent of its 3.3 million registered voters cast their ballots by 3 pm. Election observers expect these numbers to rise significantly in the final two hours of polling, as many voters in rural areas often prefer to visit stations later in the day to avoid midday temperatures or complete morning agricultural duties.