The constitutional body took the decision on Thursday acting on the recommendation of the Voter Registration Committee (VRC) headed by Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav.
According to EC Spokesperson Bir Bahadur Rai, EC will launch a week-long voter registration program from August 17 for the Constituent Assembly (CA) election scheduled for November 19. [break]
EC has said that Nepali citizens who have completed 18 years of age by mid-July this year can be registered on the new electoral roll within the given time.
Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety said the district election offices will determine appropriate venues for voter registration. “It may be at the district headquarters or any other place accessible to the public,” he added.
Asked how the commission managed to provide additional time for voter registration despite its tight schedule, Uprety said, “We have given a window period for voter registration in line with the previously announced calendar of events.” He stated that final list of voters will be published on September 7, the deadline already set by EC.
The High Level Political Committee (HLPC) on August 2 had formally requested the constitutional body to provide another chance for unregistered voters to register on the new electoral roll.
The constitutional body has already announced calendar of events and program for the proportional representation and first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral systems.
Also, EC has already set mid-July of this year as the cutoff date for eligible voting age for the upcoming CA election.
EC has registered 12.3 million voters with photo and biometrics over the last three years. It had concluded the voter registration on July 15.
EC draws leaders´ attention to election code of conduct
EC has expressed “grave” concern over statements made by various political leaders against the election code of conduct, which has already come into force, and against multiparty system and religious and social harmony during the election campaign.
Chief Election Commissioner Uprety said that they have drawn the attention of political leaders not to make any public statements against the election code of conduct.
However, the commission has not mentioned any particular leader who has made public statements against the election code of conduct
Issuing a statement, EC has maintained that misleading statements of political leaders would disturb the level playing field in elections.
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