Election Commission stresses on amending laws and ensuring resources for elections

Kathmandu, Sept 18: The Election Commission has urged the government to ensure the necessary resources, including the amendment to the Voter Registration Act, 2073, to be able to conduct the elections to the House of Representatives within the stipulated time.     

By the 16th of Kartik (November 2, 2025) the number of voters who have reached the age of 18 is projected to reach 18 million 168 thousand 230.     

During a discussions with Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal held at the Election Commission today in relation to the upcoming elections, the EC officials including Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said that since the collection of voter registration lists has been suspended from June 30 due to the previously set date for the by-elections, legal arrangements must be made to allow for the resumption of voter registration after the date for the mid-term elections has been announced.     

On the occasion, discussions were held between the Commission and the government to amend the law by ordinance regarding the provision in sub-section 2 of section 4 of that Act.     

After Home Minister Aryal suggested the EC to plan measures to allow Nepalis living abroad to exercise their voting rights, in accordance with the Supreme Court's order, the EC has prepared to discuss with legal experts to provide suggestions on this topic.     

Following the Gen-Z demonstrations on the 24th and 25th of this month, an interim government has been formed under the leadership of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, and the House of Representatives has been dissolved, with an election date announced for March 5, 2026.     

The acting chief election commissioner Bhandari stated that the Commission has already started work on the elections as per the directive of the interim government, urging for effective security arrangements, assurance of manpower and resources, coordination with other ministries, involvement of political parties, and cooperation from the government and relevant sectors in the implementation of the election code of conduct.(RSS)