Voter turnout during Sunday’s polling for the federal parliament and provincial assembly elections plunged in Dhading, compared to the statistics for the local level polls held in May.  

The latest turnout in the district is 67.12 percent, down from around 81 percent during the local level elections. Out of the 233,505 people eligible to vote, only 156,385 cast their ballot. 

There were no crowds at most of the polling booths. People did not have to wait long to cast their vote, unlike during the local polls held in summer. Upper reaches of the district lie in the mountainous region where an advancing winter and snow added to the chill. There were reports of farmers descending to warmer places with their cattle especially sheep in search of pastures.

“Around 3,200 people cast their votes during the local elections at the Dhadingbesi-based Nilkantha Secondary School centre. But only 2,571 voters turned up during the federal and provincial elections,” said polling officer Yangya Prasad Dhakal. There are 3,7031 voters registered for the booth.

According to the district election office, 77,120 eligible voters were absent on Sunday. Election officer Ishwor Simkhada said 79,423 of the total 118,150 eligible voters cast their ballot in Dhading constituency-1 while 76,950 ballots were cast from among 115,355 total registered voters in constituency-2.

Foreign employment, lack of public holiday in Kathmandu and other places where people from Dhading are temporarily staying for jobs and study and cold weather are among the factors deemed responsible for the lower voter participation. (PR)