Kathmandu: Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki cast her ballot at the Dhapasi polling centre Thursday morning, signalling the start of Nepal’s 2026 general election and a transition away from months of intense political upheaval.

The snap polls follow the "Gen Z movement" in September, a youth-led uprising that forced the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the dissolution of the House of Representatives. Karki, who was appointed executive head on Sept. 12 to oversee the six-month interim period, remarked on the conclusion of her term after voting.

"My duty is completed," Karki told ANI.

Electorate and Demographics

The Election Commission confirmed that all logistical preparations are finalised for the 10-hour voting window. Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari characterised the arrangements as "free, fair, transparent and peaceful" and "urged everyone to exercise their franchise without fear."

According to The Kathmandu Post, 18,903,689 registered voters will determine the outcome for 6,541 candidates competing for 275 seats in the House of Representatives. The electorate has grown by more than 915,000 since 2022, with the 18-to-40 age demographic now comprising 52% of the voting population.

The Electoral Map

The candidate pool for the 165 first-past-the-post (FPTP) seats includes 2,263 individuals from 65 parties and 1,143 independents. However, representation remains unbalanced; of the FPTP contenders, 3,017 are male, 388 are female, and only one identifies as a member of the sexual and gender minority community. Additionally, while youth voters dominate the electorate, only 201 candidates are aged 30 or younger, compared to 1,925 aged between 41 and 60.

For the 110 proportional representation seats, 63 parties have submitted lists totalling 3,135 candidates, split evenly by gender. To achieve national party status, a group must secure at least 3% of the proportional vote and win at least one FPTP seat.

Security and Logistics

To maintain order across 10,963 polling stations, authorities have mobilised 341,113 security personnel, including 149,000 temporary "election police." A Security Council meeting led by Karki on Wednesday determined that the current environment is likely more transparent than in previous years.

"No force can disrupt the election," Bhandari asserted, adding that high youth engagement is expected to increase turnout and minimise invalid ballots. Voter participation reached a low of 61.4% in 2022, falling below the 69.4% historical average maintained since 2006.

To expedite the process, officials are utilising helicopters to collect ballot boxes from remote mountainous regions. Authorities expect to "publish the results of the first-past-the-post vote within 24 hours after vote counting begins."

With inputs from ANI