Kathmandu: By the time voting concluded on Thursday evening, millions of Nepalis had participated in what observers termed the most emotionally charged general election the country has seen in years.Held two years ahead of schedule, this was the first general election since the youth-led protests that shook Nepal last September, forcing the K.P. Sharma Oli-led government to collapse. The uprising exploded across the country after years of frustration over corruption, slow economic growth, and deep inequality. The anger on the streets turned deadly when police opened fire in several places. Seventy-seven people died during the unrest, including 19 youths killed on the first day alone.Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, a 73-year-old former Chief Justice who came out of retirement to lead the transitional government, oversaw the polls, which were guarded by over three lakh deployed security personnel.Months later, voters returned to the ballot box carrying the weight of that memory.The election felt less like a routine political exercise and more like a national crossroads. On one side were the traditional political forces that have dominated Nepal’s politics for decades. On the other side stood a new generation of politicians trying to speak to angry young voters, especially Gen Z citizens who say they are tired of old promises. Notably, five-time Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba did not contest, departing for Singapore for medical treatment and signalling a potential end to a 34-year political career.Following the close of polls, officials from the Election Commission held a press conference to share initial estimates. Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said the turnout was roughly around 60 percent. He called the election itself a challenge because it was announced in what he described as “special circumstances,” referring to the preceding political turmoil.Despite the tense political background, voting remained peaceful across the country. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 5 p.m.In total, Nepal had 1.89 crore (18,903,689) registered voters for this election, choosing representatives for 165 direct constituencies and 110 proportional representation seats in the House of Representatives. The political field was crowded, with 3,406 candidates competing for direct seats and 3,135 candidates vying through the proportional representation system.Even though the country experienced one of the most dramatic protest movements in its history last year, turnout does not appear to have increased. This is surprising to some observers, considering that about 10 lakh new voters were added to the electoral rolls following the youth protests.Yet the expected surge in participation did not materialise.Anubhav Ajeet, a Nepal poll expert, noted that the answer lies partly in public frustration, particularly among urban voters. He said that many people who have witnessed several political movements in Nepal over the years were not convinced that last year’s protests would truly bring change.In his view, the new political forces also struggled to articulate what they would do differently. Parties presenting themselves as “new alternatives”, including groups like the Rashtriya Swatantra Party, did not manage to clearly communicate what separated them from traditional factions. Older voters, Ajeet observed, did not feel attracted to these new parties. Meanwhile, younger voters were caught in a dilemma, unwilling to support the political establishment but not fully convinced by the newcomers.Election observer Kunjani Pariyar Pyasi noted a similar trend while monitoring polling booths in the Kaski district. According to her observations, many registered voters were simply absent from their hometowns.A large number of Nepalis, especially the young, now reside in major cities away from their home districts or have moved abroad for work and study. “In my observation, there were more youths,” Pyasi said, describing the demographics at the booths, suggesting that the older generation appeared less interested in participating.Migration has become a critical issue in Nepal’s elections. Around 35 lakh Nepalis are currently living outside the country. However, Nepal’s legal framework does not permit voting from abroad.This systemic rigidity affected even top prime ministerial contenders. Oli, Rashtriya Swatantra Party leader Balendra Shah, and Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa were all unable to vote for themselves. Election rules dictate that while candidates can contest from any district, they may only cast a ballot in the constituency where they are formally registered.Political analyst Shekhar Parajuli, Executive Director of the Democracy Resource Centre Nepal, observed that such logistical barriers heavily discourage participation. Many voters live outside their home districts with little incentive to travel long distances to cast a ballot.Election rules create additional challenges. During elections in Nepal, most vehicles are prohibited from operating, Parajuli said. That rule makes it difficult for elderly voters and people with disabilities to reach polling stations.He also pointed out that Nepal lacks systems like early voting, which are common in other democracies. Workers in the private sector often do not receive a designated holiday on election day, further depressing turnout.For observers, this raises questions regarding the health of Nepal’s democratic processes.“This is not a full-fledged democracy,” Parajuli said. “If more and more citizens are registering to vote but participation stays almost the same, it may reflect growing political fatigue rather than enthusiasm.”Bibhu Luitel is a freelance reporter based in Kathmandu.