Public gatherings for viewing election results, including outdoor screenings, have been banned, with citizens urged to stay home. The Election Commission (EC) announced that police will enforce this restriction to prevent disturbances, confiscate equipment, and disperse crowds if necessary. People are also prohibited from lingering near polling stations or counting centres.
Voters who haven’t received their polling cards can collect them from local post offices or online, though ID alone is sufficient to vote. Vote counting will begin with postal votes at 4:15 p.m. on Election Day, November 14, followed by regular ballots at 7:15 p.m., with results released only after validation by the Election Secretariat. Campaigning during the “silent period” from November 11 is banned, and violators will be arrested.
Photography, weapon carrying, and intoxication at polling stations are prohibited, as are firecrackers and gatherings during the election and results announcements. Employers must provide leave for employees to vote, and any vandalism at polling stations may lead to vote cancellation.
The EC also announced over 20 foreign observers and enhanced mobile patrols. Schools are closed on November 13 and 14, with classes resuming on November 18. Voting will take place on November 14, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with 17.1 million voters choosing 225 representatives for the 10th Parliament, which will convene on November 21.
