Election Commission proposes inter-district and external voting for future elections

Kathmandu, October 27

The Election Commission has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs to introduce inter-district voting and external voting arrangements for upcoming elections, potentially allowing citizens to cast their ballots from outside their home districts or from abroad.

Election Commissioner Guru Prasad Wagle said the commission had first submitted a preliminary draft to the ministry on July 3, 2023, proposing to consolidate seven separate election-related laws into a single piece of legislation.

The proposed Election Management Bill seeks to bring together laws including the Voter List Act, Local Level Election Act and House of Representatives Member Election Act.

The draft had remained at the ministry for an extended period. Following a recent request from the government, the commission resubmitted a revised, consolidated draft on June 5, 2026.

The commission has now proposed adding provisions for inter-district and external voting to the draft bill.

“Both external voting and inter-district voting can be introduced gradually,” Wagle said.

He said the commission had advised the ministry to consider the legal, technological and practical requirements for implementing the arrangements across elections at different levels, rather than limiting the provisions to a particular election.

Pilot scheme proposed for local and provincial elections

The commission had previously formed a committee led by Wagle to study the legal aspects of the proposed voting arrangements and another committee led by Dr Rajiv Subba to examine technological and technical requirements.

Following the studies, the commission submitted its recommendations to the Home Ministry.

According to the commission’s proposal, inter-district and external voting could be tested at selected locations during upcoming local and provincial elections, provided the necessary legal framework and technology are in place.

Nepal has 753 local governments and 7,643 wards. Under an inter-district voting system, citizens could potentially vote from wherever they are in the country, even if they are away from the ward where they are registered.

However, the commission has advised that the practical and administrative challenges of implementing such a system must be considered.

Internet voting considered for Nepalis abroad

For external voting, the commission believes physical voting from abroad would be difficult to implement.

“Physical voting from abroad may not be possible. Internet voting could be an option,” Wagle said.

The proposal would therefore require further consideration of the technology, legal safeguards and practical arrangements needed to enable Nepalis living overseas to vote.

The proposed changes remain under consideration as part of the consolidated Election Management Bill. Any implementation would depend on the required legal provisions and technical preparations.

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