Kathmandu, June 30
The Election Commission says poll officials should continue counting of votes from the second phase of local level elections even if candidates or their representatives are not present at the counting venue.
It has directed the officials not to halt the task even if the candidates or representatives refuse to sign an agreement to begin counting.
That means the counting can be begun and continued in agreement with present candidates and representatives.
A meeting of the constitutional body held today has made a decision to issue such instructions.
The Commission says the decision was made in compliance with Section 60 of the Local Level Election Act, 2017, which says vote counting should not be stopped just because some candidates or their representatives are not present at the vote counting venue.
The decision is expected to let the officials conduct counting faster and publish the results accordingly.
Earlier, the Commission has said results of the polls held on Wednesday will come out within one week.
