Election Ballot Printing Update: 1.42 Crore Ballots Printed

23rd January 2026, Kathmandu

The Janak Shiksha Samagri Kendra, also known as JSSK, has reported that a total of 1 crore 42 lakh 8 thousand election ballots have been printed to date. This marks a significant milestone in the technical preparations for the upcoming snap general elections scheduled for March 2026. The progress reflects the continuous efforts of the center to meet the national electoral needs under high-security conditions and a very tight timeline.

Election Ballot Printing

According to the latest data from the center located in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, 11 lakh 16 thousand ballots were printed in the last 24 hours alone. The total printing target for the 2026 elections has been set at 2 crore 8 lakh 3 thousand ballots. This indicates that approximately 68 percent of the required ballots have already been produced. The high pace of operation and the efficiency of the center demonstrate that the technical infrastructure is capable of meeting the demands of a nationwide democratic exercise.

Ballot Packing and Systematic Logistics

Alongside the intense printing schedule, the ballot packing process is progressing steadily to ensure that the materials are ready for nationwide distribution. Systematic logistics are essential for a country with diverse geographical challenges like Nepal, where transporting materials to the high Himalayas requires significant lead time.

The data shows that 11,478 boxes of ballots have been prepared to date. In terms of recent daily progress, 1,226 boxes were packed in the last 24 hours. To ensure the integrity of the process, the entire printing and packing operation is being conducted under the strict supervision and security of the Nepali Army. This military presence is a standard procedure in Nepal to prevent any unauthorized access, tampering, or leaks of sensitive election materials before they reach the polling stations.

This organized approach ensures that once the printing is 100 percent complete, the ballots can be dispatched to the 165 federal constituencies and 330 provincial constituencies across the seven provinces without delay.

Quality Control and Sample Verification

The center has also sent 1,98,200 sample ballots to the Election Commission for final verification and quality control. These sample ballots serve several critical functions in the lead-up to the polls. First, they are used in voter education programs to familiarize the public with the layout and the placement of symbols. This is particularly important for elderly voters or those in rural areas who may need extra guidance on the voting process.

Second, the sample ballots allow for an accuracy check. Election officials use these samples to verify that the names of the candidates and their respective party symbols are printed correctly according to the final list published earlier this month. Finally, they ensure standardization. By checking the samples, the commission can confirm that the paper quality and the density of the ink meet the security standards required to prevent fraud or double-marking.

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The Election Commission has specified that the ballots for the First-Past-The-Post system will feature symbols in black ink on a white background, while the Proportional Representation ballots will follow a different color-coded scheme to help voters easily distinguish between the two systems.

Timeline and Operational Efficiency

The Election Commission and Janak Shiksha Samagri Kendra officials have emphasized that timely preparation is the backbone of a successful election. With more than 18.9 million registered voters in the country, the volume of work is higher than in any previous election cycle.

Regarding the overall status of the project, the total target is over 20.8 million ballots. With the current progress sitting at 14.2 million ballots, the completion rate is nearly 68 percent. The center is maintaining a daily output of approximately 1.1 million to 1.3 million ballots. This suggests that the center is utilizing its full capacity of high-speed printing presses. By maintaining this consistent production rate, the center is on track to complete the entire printing assignment well before the mid-February deadline.

This buffer period is vital for the Election Commission. It provides the necessary time to transport the materials to remote districts like Dolpa, Mugu, and Humla. In these areas, ballots often have to be transported by helicopter or porters, and weather conditions can cause significant delays.

Transparency and Monitoring

To maintain the credibility of the democratic process, the center has implemented rigorous monitoring. Each batch of printed ballots undergoes a three-tier verification process. The first tier involves quantity verification, where counting machines ensure exactly the right number of ballots are allocated to each specific polling station. The second tier involves storage security, using facilities that prevent moisture damage or unauthorized handling. The third tier is tracking, where each box is labeled with a specific code representing its destination district and polling center.

The Election Commission has expressed confidence in the current trajectory. Officials highlighted that with continued diligence, the remaining 32 percent of ballots will be finalized shortly. This allows the commission to focus on other critical tasks, such as the training of election staff and the deployment of security personnel to the more than 10,000 polling stations nationwide.

Conclusion

The update from Janak Shiksha Samagri Kendra is a reassuring sign for the voters of Nepal. With over 1.42 crore ballots already printed and thousands of boxes ready for dispatch, the technical machinery of the state is moving in harmony with the constitutional timeline. As the country prepares for the upcoming polls, the efficiency shown in ballot production reinforces public trust in the transparency and preparedness of the Election Commission.

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