Why have some voters in Nepal had to travel long distances to reach polling stations?

Voters in Nepal often face long travel distances to reach polling stations primarily due to the country's exceptionally rugged and difficult mountain terrain. Roughly 75 percent of the nation is covered by mountains, featuring complex systems of ranges and deep, transverse river valleys that create significant physical barriers to movement.12

Furthermore, transportation infrastructure in Nepal is very limited, with minimal road mileage compared to other nations of similar size. Because modern road networks are sparse, the primary means of travel throughout much of the country remains a network of footpaths and trails that follow river systems. These geographic and infrastructural challenges make traversing the landscape time-consuming and difficult, directly impacting the accessibility of polling locations for many citizens.31