KATHMANDU, Nov 5: The Election Commission (EC) has started preparations for the House of Representatives election on March 5, but Nepalis living abroad are unlikely to vote.
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EC Spokesperson Narayan Bhattarai said the commission has no theoretical objection to granting overseas citizens voting rights, but it is not technically feasible yet. “On October 5, 2023, we drafted a law for Nepalis abroad and submitted it to the Ministry of Home Affairs for Parliament. The commission is ready in principle, but preparations are lacking,” he explained.
Currently, no law exists to allow Nepalis abroad to vote, and there is also no political consensus or administrative readiness. Existing laws, including the House of Representatives Election Act and Voter List Act, do not account for overseas voters. Bhattarai stressed that legal, technical, and political measures are all needed before citizens abroad can participate.
