KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 8Candidacy filing for the 19 vacant posts of National Assembly members scheduled for January 25 is taking place today. EC begins preparations for January 25 NA elections EC endorses NA election schedule announced for January 25 The nomination papers of the candidates are to be registered at the Office of Returning Officer established in the capitals of all seven provinces from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm today.Spokesperson of the Election Commission Shaligram Sharma Poudel informed that all necessary preparation and responsibilities to be placed prior to the registration of nomination has been over. The province assembly members, chairpersons and vice chairpersons of rural municipalities and mayors and deputy mayors of municipalities are the voters in the NA member election.As per the legal provision, 549 province assembly members and 2047 local level leaders (mayor/chair and deputy mayor/vice-chairperson) have been enlisted in the voters' roll.The vote weight of provincial assembly members has been fixed at 53 and that of chiefs and deputy chiefs of municipalities/rural municipalities at 19.

The total vote weight of provincial assembly members is 29,097 and that of chiefs and deputy chiefs is 28,462.According to the Election Commission, the final list of voters has already been published on Sunday.The nomination list will be published on January 9 while the final list of candidates will be published on January 12 after completing the process of protest and complaint against candidates and probe.The candidates will be provided with election symbol on January 13.

One polling station and two polling centers have been set up in each province for the election.Voting will take place from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm on January 25.

The term of one-third of 59-member National Assembly is completed in every two years.

Women, Dalits, persons with disabilities or minorities and members from other communities will be elected from different provinces and regions in this election. .

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