Election Commission Highlights Challenges in Enabling Overseas Nepalese to Vote in Local Elections
A commissioner of the Election Commission has stated that although facilitating voting for Nepalese living abroad is a priority, various technical challenges make it difficult to accomplish this in the upcoming local elections. The commissioner mentioned that due to time constraints, organizing inter-district voting for the local elections will be challenging, but a study has begun to incorporate technology-friendly systems such as postal-based voting into the legal framework.
Following the appointment of the newly designated Chief Election Commissioner and other officials, the Election Commission has instructed district election offices to rectify errors in the voter registry. Unlike previous campaigns conducted in Kartik (October-November), this year’s drive will conclude by Aswin (September-October), giving new voters the chance to register and correct discrepancies. For the general elections held last Falgun (February-March), the final voter registry listed 18.9 million voters, and more than 181,000 names have been added as of the first week of Ashadh (June-July), according to commission officials.
On Shrawan 14 (late July), Chief Election Commissioner Man Bahadur Karki and two other commissioners assumed their duties. The commission’s team has since met with high-ranking officials including President Ram Chandra Paudel and Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal. Newly appointed commissioner Dr. Rajiv Subba emphasized that conducting technology-friendly elections is his top priority, and preparations are underway to draft a concept note on legal amendments and the use of modern technology.
“Enabling inter-district voting and extending voting rights to Nepalese abroad are significant challenges. The upcoming challenges involve inter-district migration, overseas Nepalese, and approximately 500,000 election workers. Discussions are ongoing about possible solutions,” he said. Dr. Subba also noted that further studies will explore options such as online voting, postal ballot systems based on technology, and the use of voting machines, but acknowledged that implementing these in the local elections will be difficult.
“While efforts will be made to use technology in local elections, the limited time and the challenges in adapting ballots for electronic voting machines make this unfeasible. Currently, internet voting is not an option due to infrastructure and budget constraints,” he explained. “However, for upcoming provincial elections and similar contests, some options will be tested, including hybrid models wherein legal amendments could enable postal voting.”
Many eligible voters residing within the country but outside their home district or constituency have often been disenfranchised. Security personnel and government employees working during elections are voting under the proportional representation system used in parliamentary elections. Former Chief Election Commissioner Nilkantha Upreti previously remarked, “Arrangements for all eligible voters within the country are possible if there is will, but it is unlikely that all overseas Nepalese will be accommodated.”
The commission’s ongoing campaign aims to create an error-free, updated, and reliable voter registry. Subba said, “While this is a routine task, lack of fully computerized or online systems means that updating records such as those for deceased voters takes time. We have directed district offices to visit local communities to update data and have requested immediate updates via virtual meetings.”
The Election Commission has clarified that during the voter registration update period, individuals can amend their name, address, transfer their polling station within the same ward, and correct details pertaining to citizenship. Officials also noted that removal of duplicate names, and updates regarding deaths and changes in residence are possible.
