The Election Commission (EC) has put the preliminary voter turnout at 67 per cent in the second phase of parliamentary and provincial election held in 45 districts on Thursday. 

The election in 45 districts voted to elect 128 House of Representatives and 256 Provincial Assembly members. 

According to the election body, Gulmi district recorded the highest 71 per cent voter turnout.

The election that began from 7 am was scheduled to officially end at 5 pm. It is, however, learnt that the voting was alloed to continue in the places where voters reached the voting centers and queued up for their turn.

First phase elections were held in 32 districts on November 26. 

The completion of the second phase of elections will make way for a federal parliament at the centre and provincial assemblies in seven provinces as envisioned by the new constitution adopted in 2015.

According to EC, a total of 5,293 candidates are competing under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system while as many as 6,094 candidates are contesting under the proportional (PR) category.

A total of 495 seats —165 for federal parliament and 330 for provincial assemblies are up for grabs.