Election preparations in full swing

By Arpana Adhikari,Kathmandu, Nov. 9: Following the collapse of the coalition government led by the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress on September 9, an interim government under Prime Minister Sushila Karki is steering the country toward the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, 2026. 

Many see this mid-term poll, announced following the dissolution of the HoR and the recent political upheaval, as a crucial test of the public’s fresh mandate. As the countdown to March 5, 2026, begins, the Election Commission (EC), the body responsible for conducting elections, has stepped up its preparations. The EC has already launched a wide range of initiatives, including legal reforms, approval of directives, logistics, voters and party registration, and coordination with key stakeholders to ensure a smooth and successful election. 

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari stated that over 60 per cent of the preparations have been completed. “We have finalised the managerial arrangements, mobilised all necessary resources, and are now moving forward with their implementation,” he said, noting that the progress was possible due to the mutual trust between the government and the Election Commission.

Budget estimates projected at Rs. 7 billion   

The EC has formally requested a budget from the government to conduct the upcoming election, though officials did not disclose the exact amount proposed. 

On October 25, EC Information Officer Suman Ghimire had told The Rising Nepal that the Commission had estimated a preliminary budget of around Rs. 7 billion. However, the Ministry of Finance approved and allocated only Rs. 4.96 billion. EC Secretary Mahadev Pantha explained that while the Commission had requested additional funds, the Ministry approved the budget based on its own estimates. 

“The gap between the requested and approved amounts arises because the Ministry allocates resources according to its calculations,” he said, adding that not all projected funds are fully spent, as the EC manages the budget in line with rules and regulations to prevent unusual or unnecessary expenses.

In the previous HoR and Provincial Assembly elections in 2022, the EC had spent Rs. 6.54 billion, although the government had allocated Rs. 10 billion. Of this, the EC received Rs. 8.49 billion and later returned Rs. 3 billion to the state coffers.

Acting Chief Commissioner Bhandari said, “Earlier, I had assured the Prime Minister that the Commission would conduct the election within Rs. 5 billion ceiling. Although the Ministry has released Rs. 4.96 billion, the government has committed to immediately providing additional funds if required, so there will be no budgetary issues.”

Bhandari also noted that the largest election expenses are usually for imported items such as ballot papers, printing materials, and ballot boxes. “We already have leftover ballot boxes and more than double the required paper, so new purchases are not needed. Only 12–14 items will be procured from the centre through a competitive and transparent process,” he said.

“By prioritising nationally and locally procured materials, we expect the election to incur no unusual or excessive costs,” he added.

For this election, the EC plans to continue the past practice of establishing one polling centre for every 1,000 voters. Most of the expenditure will go toward election personnel, with each polling centre requiring at least 14 staff members, along with additional staff for vote counting.

Voter registration multiply  

The EC has seen a surge in voter registration as citizens rush to meet the deadline. 

Within 45 days of the drive that began on September 25, 146,657 new voters have been added, including 87,974 males, 58,663 females, and 20 others. Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Parsa reported the largest increases, prompting the Kathmandu District Election Office to expand registration centres from five to ten, with additional staff deployed.

EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai attributed nationwide awareness campaigns and youth-led initiatives, while Acting Chief Commissioner Bhandari highlighted efforts by political parties and youth groups. 

Bhandari noted that the recent surge in voter registration reflects the common tendency of Nepalis to complete such processes close to the deadline.

In response to the surge, the EC has urged local governments to assist in the voter registration and update process. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Karki and Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal have publicly appealed to all eligible citizens to register their names in the voter roll without delay.

Citizens turning 18 by March 4, 2026, are eligible to register their names in voters roll, with the update deadline set for November 16. 

Normally suspended after elections are announced, voter updates continue under a recent presidential ordinance. By mid-April this year, total 18,148,654 voters were registered, an increase of around 160,000 compared to the 2022 elections. It was projected that 18,168,230 citizens would have reached voting age by November 2, 2025.

EC moves to build consensus among stakeholders 

The EC has begun consultations with all stakeholders, including major political parties and Gen Z representatives, holding the first round of discussion on October 16 and planning another on November 13.

Acting Chief Commissioner Bhandari said such discussions will continue to ensure participation and foster cooperation between old and new political forces. 

He urged both old and new political forces to avoid exclusionary policies, emphasising that holding the HoR election is crucial for good governance and peace. 

Bhandari said the government must ensure security and provide the Commission with necessary resources, guaranteeing that no political parties and voters feel unsafe to participate in the polls. 

Since the election date was announced, the Commission has been fully engaged and committed to conducting a smooth and successful election,” he said.

Granting voting rights to Nepalis abroad

In a long-overdue move to uphold the constitutional rights of millions of Nepalis living abroad, the government has taken steps to ensure their participation in national elections.

 A draft ordinance titled “Ordinance to Amend Certain Nepal Election Acts, 2082” has been prepared, proposing minor amendments to four existing laws, the Election Commission Act 2073, House of Representatives Election Act 2074, Voter List Act, and Election Offenses and Punishment Act.

 The government plans to allow overseas voting only under the proportional representation (PR) system for the House of Representatives. The Supreme Court had already directed the government in 2018 to ensure voting rights for Nepalis abroad.

Bharatmani Rijal, Chief of the Legal Division and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), said the draft ordinance has been reviewed by the EC and forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

It includes provisions to update the voter list for overseas Nepalis and ensures that election-related offenses committed abroad fall under Nepali law, he said. 

The Policy Research Institute will discuss the matter on November 9, after which further steps will be decided, Rijal added. 

With Nepal currently having 44 diplomatic missions, the draft suggests mobilising mission staff to facilitate voting. 

Responding to concerns about the short voter registration period, ending on November 16, Rijal said the EC would manage the process based on its resources and readiness.

Another MoHA Joint Secretary, Ananda Kafle, explained that the process of ensuring the voting rights of Nepalis living abroad involves two components, legal amendments and technical/managerial arrangements. 

“The draft ordinance, along with EC feedback, has been forwarded to the Ministries of Finance, and Foreign Affairs. Then the draft will be sent to the Ministry of Law before being sent to the Cabinet for approval,” he said. 

The Policy Research Institute, assigned by the Prime Minister’s Office, is studying technical and managerial options to ensure feasibility and compliance with international standards for free and fair overseas voting.

Acting Chief Commissioner Bhandari expressed confidence that the EC is ready to update the voter list and facilitate voting for Nepalis abroad once the government provides the necessary support. “The EC will make policy-level decisions, while the government will handle implementation part,” he said.

125 parties registered, EC reviewing applications from 15 new parties

Following the announcement of mid-term elections, the EC has received applications from 15 newly formed political parties, while a total of 125 political parties have been registered with the Commission. 

Among them, the Shram Sanskriti Party led by Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang has already been registered, while other applications remain under review.

New applicants include the Gatisheel Loktantrik Party led by Dinesh Raj Prasai, Nepal Liberal Party by Gopilal Neupane, Rastriya Gen Z Party by Hira Prasad Soti, Rastriya Pariwartan Party by Ajay Kumar Rai, Nagarik Unmukti Party by Kabir Sob, Janayug Party by Nawaraj Subedi, Hamro Party Nepal by Khagendra Sunar and Nepal Rastriya Yuva Party by Himalaya Bahadur Chand. Several more, including the Rastriya Urjasheel Party Nepal, Sundar Nepal Nirman Party, and Rastra Nirman Party, submitted their applications on Friday.

An EC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many emerging youth-led political groups have shown interest but struggle to meet documentation requirements.

Some, the official said, misinterpret procedural checks as bureaucratic hurdles. “No party can be registered without fulfilling legal requirements,” the official said. 

Under Section 5 of the Political Parties Act, 2016, applicants must submit their statute, flag, proposed election symbol, signatures of at least 500 registered voters (with citizenship or voter ID copies), and a central committee of at least 21 members.

The EC also revealed that 10 parties had applied before the September 8–9 Gen Z movement, but their applications remain incomplete. The registration deadline for new parties is November 16, after which parties must register separately for election purposes between November 17 and 26.

The Commission has urged interested groups to apply early, noting that verification of documents, such as member records and citizenship details, can take up to a week. Only parties completing registration within the given timeframe will be eligible to participate under the proportional representation (PR) system.

EC’s action plan for polls

The EC has finalized a comprehensive action plan to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming House of Representatives election.

According to the plan, the official election campaign period will run for 14 days, from February 16 to March 2, followed by a silent period. Ballot papers will reach district headquarters by February 24 and will then be distributed to polling centres.

The election programme will be approved and published in the Nepal Gazette on November 26, while the voter list update will take place between November 17 and December 30. The Election Officer’s office for the proportional representation (PR) system will open on December 1 and the first-past-the-post (FPTP) office will begin operation on January 16, 2026.

Polling stations and centres will be finalised and published in Nepal Gazette on December 30, while closed lists for PR elections are to be submitted between January 2 and 3, 2026. 

Likewise, joint election operation centres and police communication units will be established on January 16 and will function until March 14. Voting will take place on March 5, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with vote counting for both systems starting the same evening, the EC informed. 

Acting Chief Commissioner Bhandari said the EC remains focused on holding the polls in a free, fair, and fearless manner. With four months remaining, he noted that certain responsibilities still rest with the government to ensure smooth execution.

Calling the upcoming vote a “special and challenging election,” Bhandari said the EC is determined to conduct it successfully. “We have already met with security agency chiefs, who have assured full cooperation, including the deployment of temporary (Myadi) police,” he said.

He expressed full confidence in the government’s security arrangements and commitment. “There is no reason to doubt that the polls will be conducted peacefully. Any issue that arises will be immediately addressed,” he added.

“Since the election date has already been announced, there is no alternative; the election must be held, and it will be held,” Bhandari affirmed.