KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has commenced internal preparations for the upcoming National Assembly (NA) elections, prompted by the imminent conclusion of the terms of 20 members, including Speaker Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, on March 3, 2024.

Although the official announcement of the election date has been delayed, the EC is actively engaged in its internal groundwork.

Following the promulgation of the new Constitution in 2015, the positions of 19 elected members and 20 nominated members of the National Assembly will be vacant.

The election will be held for 19 members, while the President will nominate one member.

EC Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel stated that the Commission has issued a letter to the National Statistics Office on Thursday, requesting the calculation of voter weight as part of the preparation.

According to the legal framework, electors include members of the provincial assembly, as well as the head and deputy head of the municipality.

The National Assembly Member Election Act 2075 specifies that the government should set the election date 35 days before the vacancy.

Despite the law mandating a 120-day notice, the Commission now has approximately 75 days left for election preparations, considering the delayed announcement.

The Act also outlines the selection of Electoral Council members in each province through secret ballot.

The electorate includes members of the provincial assembly, the head and deputy head of the municipality, and the chairman and vice-chairman of the rural municipality.

The votes from these different groups carry varying weights.

In the 2074 election, provincial assembly members’ votes weighed 48, while those of the head and deputy head of the municipality were 18.

The EC is currently reviewing these weights based on the 2078 census data, with an expected increase due to population growth.