Changes Unveiled in Voting Weights for Upcoming NA Polls

The Election Commission (EC) has revised the voting weights assigned to electors for the upcoming National Assembly election. According to a statement released on Wednesday, the EC announced changes in the voting weights for the Mayor/Chairperson and deputy mayor/vice chairperson of local units, citing the latest 2021 census data as the basis for the adjustment.

Under the new guidelines, the Mayor/Chairperson of local units will now carry a substantial vote weight of 53, while the deputy mayor/vice chairperson will have a vote weight of 19. This adjustment reflects a shift from the previous weights, where the Mayor/Chairperson held a vote weight of 48, and the deputy mayor/vice chairperson had a vote weight of 18.

The National Assembly, comprising 59 members, sees eight representatives elected from each of the seven provinces, with an additional three members appointed by the President. The electoral college responsible for electing these members includes the mayor/chairperson and deputy mayor/vice chairperson of municipal bodies nationwide.

The EC’s decision to update the voting weights is crucial as it will influence the outcome of the upcoming elections, particularly for the 20 seats, including National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, whose six-year tenure is set to conclude on March 4. In response to this, the EC has proposed holding the elections for these 20 seats, alongside the vacant seats in the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies, in January.