Election Commission Recommends Three-Day Public Holiday for House of Representatives Polls
Hamrakura
Published 2026 Feb 23 Monday
Kathmandu: The Election Commission has recommended that the government declare public holidays on Falgun 20, 21 and 22 to facilitate the upcoming House of Representatives elections.
According to Commission spokesperson and Joint Secretary Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the proposal aims to encourage enthusiastic voter participation by making it easier for citizens—especially those living away from their permanent residences or workplaces—to travel to their polling stations and return.
The Commission has suggested declaring holidays on the day before the election, the polling day, and the following day. Notably, Falgun 18 and 19 are already public holidays in hilly districts for Fagu Purnima (Holi). If the government accepts the recommendation, voters would benefit from consecutive holidays immediately following the Holi celebrations.
The Commission believes that extended holidays will particularly assist voters residing in the capital and other urban centers to travel to their home districts, thereby potentially increasing voter turnout.
