The Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA) conducted an observation of several polling centers in Kathmandu, Gorkha, and Kanchanpur districts, finding that the election process was generally peaceful and partially inclusive. However, several significant challenges related to accessibility, service provision, and voter education were also identified.
During the observation, election officials were found to be supportive, responsive, and open in sharing information. They provided direct assistance to senior citizens and persons with disabilities during the voting process. There was encouraging participation from persons with visual impairments, physical disabilities, deaf individuals, and those with Down syndrome. In some locations, deaf couples voted independently, while individuals with Down syndrome were accompanied by family members.
The voting process was found to be transparent and credible. The practice of displaying empty ballot boxes before the start of voting and preparing official documentation after the completion of voting was effectively implemented.
However, challenges were observed in polling center management and physical accessibility. A polling center located in a sub-health post in Kathmandu was very small and congested, with no accessibility arrangements for wheelchair users. Due to the limited space, it was also not feasible to maintain separate queues for men and women. Additionally, multiple polling centers (up to four) were located within a single compound, leading to overcrowding and confusion, making movement extremely difficult for wheelchair users. In Kanchanpur’s Laxmi Secondary School, while the path to the polling booth was accessible, the exit point was located far away. Nevertheless, election officials showed flexibility by allowing persons with disabilities to exit through the entrance.
In terms of service facilities and health provisions, although drinking water was available at most centers, there were no arrangements for first aid kits, health personnel, or ambulance services. A classroom at Laxmi Secondary School in Kanchanpur was used as a breastfeeding room, which is a positive practice. However, no polling center had arrangements for sign language interpreters (SLI) for deaf voters.
Issues related to voter education and electoral integrity were also noted. In Kanchanpur, an elderly woman expressed dissatisfaction after a family member cast a vote on her behalf against her will, raising concerns about the right to secret and independent voting. A significant number of invalid votes were also reported in the district, indicating the need for more effective and inclusive voter education. In Kathmandu, an incident occurred where a woman attempted to vote again after washing off the ink due to its poor quality; this attempt was successfully prevented by the election team.
Overall, the election remained peaceful. Out of a total of 180 security personnel, approximately 33% (60 individuals) were women, which is a positive aspect.
Women’s participation in the vote counting process, however, was relatively low. Out of a 14-member counting team, only 4 were women.
Conclusion and Key Recommendations
Based on the observation, NDWA has put forward key recommendations to make future elections more inclusive and well-managed. These include avoiding the selection of inaccessible and congested locations as polling centers, strengthening measures to prevent family interference in the voting of persons with disabilities and senior citizens to ensure independent voting, ensuring the availability of first aid kits and emergency health services at every polling center, and providing sign language interpreters (SLI) for deaf voters. According to the organization, implementing these improvements would help make future elections more inclusive, accessible, and credible.