Two methods, four ballots
Under Nepal’s constitutional framework, the 275 members of the House of Representatives are elected through a mixed system: 165 by first-past-the-post in single-member constituencies and 110 through nationwide proportional representation. On election day, voters receive separate ballots for each method.
For the federal level, one ballot is used to choose a candidate in the voter’s constituency under first-past-the-post, and another is used to vote for a party list under proportional representation. A similar two-ballot structure applies for provincial assemblies, meaning each voter will typically cast four ballots in total.
Explainers from media and civic groups stress that under the proportional tier, parties must cross a three percent nationwide vote threshold and win at least one FPTP seat to qualify as a national party. This structure seeks to balance local representation with broader party-based proportionality while avoiding extreme fragmentation.