There were 47 political incidents recorded between December 8 and January 7, 2017, the one-month period after the completion of the second phase of parliamentary and provincial elections. Of all the incidents recorded during this period, 20 were related to the parliamentary and provincial elections.

The Factsheet includes a summary of violence and contestation during the campaign silence period and election day from December 5 to 7, 2017 around Nepal’s second phase of House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly elections.

One major feature of the new constitution promulgated in September 2015 was the restructuring of Nepal’s local government, including the devolution of power to newly created provinces and local units. After much deliberations and contestations, the constitutionally mandated Local Level Restructuring Commission finalized 743 local units. On February 20, 2017, the Government of Nepal announced the local elections for May 14, 2017, which were later broken into three phases due to political reasons. The first phase elections in provinces without Tarai districts (Provinces 3, 4, and 6) were held on May 14, and the second phase elections in the rest of the provinces except province 2 were held on June 28. The province 2 elections across eight Tarai districts were held on September 18. Democracy Resource Center Nepal (DRCN) observed all three phases of the local elections conducted for the first time in nearly twenty years, and the first one under the new constitution and new local structures.

On September 18, 2017, the third and final phase of local elections was held in Province 2 consisting of eight Tarai districts. Voters in newly formed local units turned out in impressive numbers to elect new representatives. Democracy Resource Center Nepal (DRCN) conducted long-term and short-term observations of these elections to provide a critical and independent assessment of the electoral and political processes around the elections. This preliminary statement outlines findings and makes recommendations based on DRCN’s observation before, during, and after the third phase of local elections.

On September 18, 2017, Nepal held its third and final phase of local elections. Citizens enthusiastically voted to elect representatives to the 136 local units of Bara, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Parsa, Rautahat, Saptari, Sarlahi and Siraha districts of Province 2. Voter turnout was 77 percent. Polls happened after a number of districts in Province 2 had witnessed significant flooding in the month of August.

There were eleven election-related incidents recorded during the campaign period for the September 18 third phase of local elections that ran from September 6 to 15. This was the lowest number of incidents recorded during all three phases of elections, with 56 incidents recorded during the first phase campaign period, and 89 incidents recorded during the second phase campaign period.

There was a small increase in the number of election-related incidents during this reporting period. This increase can be attributed to parties beginning preparations for the third phase of local elections that are scheduled for September 18. Seven election-related incidents were recorded between August 3 and September 5.

On June 28, 2017 the Second Phase of local elections was held in Provinces 1, 5, and 7. Voters in newly formed local units turned out in impressive numbers to elect new representatives for the first time in nearly 20 years. Democracy Resource Center Nepal (DRCN) conducted observation of the elections in order to provide a critical, independent, and high-quality assessment of the electoral and political processes around the elections. This preliminary statement outlines findings and makes recommendations based on DRCN‟s observation before, during, and after the Second Phase elections.