KATHMANDU:- The Policy Research Institute (PRI) on Friday briefed the Election Commission (EC) on its intensive study exploring mechanisms to enable Nepali citizens living abroad to vote in the House of Representatives election scheduled for 5 March 2026.
During the meeting held at the EC’s office, PRI officials presented the findings of their study to the Commission. EC officials, while responding to the presentation, asked the Institute to incorporate feedback from political parties before finalising its recommendations.
Talking to The Rising Nepal, EC spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said the Commission had advised the PRI to consider political parties’ views while proposing voting arrangements for Nepalis living abroad.
He noted that ensuring external voting rights involves significant procedural and managerial challenges.
Bhattarai added that the Commission had also provided guidance on the necessary legal provisions and modalities for implementing overseas voting.
When asked about the EC’s official position on granting voting rights to Nepalis abroad, he said the Commission was prepared to conduct such an election if clear legal frameworks and voting modalities were established.
PRI spokesperson Dr. Deepak Kumar Khadka confirmed that the Institute had been instructed to consult political parties.
“We have received a suggestion from the Commission to consult political parties. The Institute will hold discussions with parties on Sunday,” he said.
He added that the EC’s response was positive but emphasised the need for adequate arrangements in terms of resources, law, and technology and human-resource capacity.
PRI’s study has concluded that inter-constituency voting and voting for Nepalis abroad would be feasible for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 poll.
The report incorporating feedback from political parties would be submitted to the government and the Commission.
The PRI has already submitted a 22-page report to the government concluding that Nepali citizens abroad, as well as voters residing outside their home constituencies, can participate in the upcoming HoR election.
The report confirms the feasibility of enabling the Nepali nationals living outside their constituencies and abroad to participate both in the first-past-the-post and proportional representation voting systems.
PRI has identified three possible methods for overseas voting, in-person voting at diplomatic missions, postal voting, and online voting.
The government may decide to adopt any one of these methods depending on what suits its administrative capacity.
The study covers the procedural steps, benefits and risks of each method, necessary legal amendments, technical and administrative considerations, and estimates of the number of eligible voters overseas.
The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had assigned the PRI for the study in the October.
The government is preparing to introduce an ordinance to amend necessary laws to enable out-of-constituency voting and overseas voting. The PRI’s study concludes that both can be implemented in the upcoming election.