Election Security

The government is fully committed to holding the upcoming local level elections in a free, fair and fearless manner. This is reflected on preparations being made for the polls slated for May 13. Elections can be conducted in a fearless environment only when a vigorous security system is put in place. Proper mobilisation of security personnel for polls could help prevent possible illegal activities like rigging and capturing of poll booths. To ensure that there will be no security lapses during the local polls, the government is preparing to deploy an adequate number of security personnel belonging to different security agencies. With its unified poll security plan, the government aims to mobilise a total of 165,000 police personnel. With an addition of 100,000 temporary police, the total number of security personnel to be deployed in all the 753 local levels is going to exceed 265,000. 

In view of possible security threats, a meeting of the National Security Council held on March 24 had endorsed the Local Level Election Integrated Security Plan-2078. Under this plan, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force (APF), Nepali Army (NA), National Investigation Department (NID) and temporary police are being mobilised for local elections. About two weeks ago, the National Security Council recommended to the government for deploying the NA personnel for the local polls. Recently, President Bidya Devi Bhandari, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, approved the proposal regarding the mobilisation of the army. This has paved the way for the NA to deploy its troops in all the local levels to help conduct the polls in a free and fair manner. According to the NA spokesperson, over 71,000 army personnel are going to be mobilised for poll security. They will work in close coordination with the concerned District Security Committees and the office of the District Chief Election Officer to ensure a full election security. 

The security plan with the deployment of the intelligence personnel associated with the NA, NID and APF is expected to contribute towards holding the elections in a dignified manner.  Periodic local polls are the key to strengthening and institutionalising the grassroots democracy. It is the free polls that alone can create a congenial environment for voters to exercise their franchise freely. With such elections, there are higher chances for the honest, dedicated and visionary candidates being elected to lead the important local government. It works closely with the people. In the existing federal governance system, the local government enjoys executive, legislative and semi-judiciary powers. So, it can strengthen the service delivery system and carry out development activities as per the needs and aspirations of the people.      

Under the local poll security plan, the NA has more than a dozen roles to play. It has to ensure security of ballot paper printing and their transportation. Besides, it needs to coordinate with other security agencies for the security of prisons, airports and other crucial structures across the nation.  The NA has been assigned to transport ballot papers, along with ballot boxes and other poll materials. The Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) has set altogether 10,756 polling booths and 21,955 polling centres for the local polls across the country. Of the total number of polling centres, 20,945 are regarded as highly sensitive, 4,420 sensitive and 3,391 general from the security perspective. So, the security agencies have a crucial role to play in conducting the polls in a trustworthy manner.