EC: Extending Voter Registration Deadline Threatens Poll Schedule

Kathmandu, November 13 -- The Election Commission has stated that prolonging the voter registration deadline might interfere with the electi...

Kathmandu, November 13 -- The Election Commission has stated that prolonging the voter registration deadline might interfere with the election timetable and impact the polls set for March 5.

During their meeting with Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Wednesday, commission officials stated that there was no requirement to prolong the deadline, as registration processes would be available for 12 hours daily beginning at 7 am. On Monday, the prime minister's office had asked the commission to review the voter identity registration deadline if needed.

In response to issues with the registration process, Karki's office also asked the commission to implement the registration in several shifts and initiate technical and legal steps to merge data from the national identity department, eliminating the need for redundant biometric information.

"We told the prime minister that the commission's evaluation indicates there is no necessity to prolong the deadline. Extending it would require revising the entire election timetable," said acting chief election commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari to the Post.

Extending the voter registration deadline might influence the election date.

Although election laws stipulated that voter registration should stop after the election dates are announced, the commission, by amending the law via an ordinance, extended it until November 16.

Three days prior to the deadline, approximately 235,000 new voters were added to the commission's list, with the election authority anticipating the total to exceed 300,000.

As many as 17,988,570 voters — 9,140,806 men, 8,847,579 women, and 185 from other categories — were eligible to vote in November 2022. By April 2025, after two and a half years, the total rose by 160,054 to reach 18,148,654.

According to the commission's official document, many of its initiatives are closely linked to the voter count. The locations of polling stations and centers are set according to the number of voters, while the amount of staff and security personnel depends on these sites.

"Postponing the exact count of voters affects other preparations," stated Bhandari.

During the meeting on Wednesday, Bhandari and his team informed the prime minister that they had already finished 60 percent of the election-related activities. According to their current evaluation, they were assured that the election could be conducted successfully within the scheduled timeframe.

In contrast to previous times, groups and parties that once avoided or hindered elections have now enrolled with the commission and are keen to take part, resulting in a more positive atmosphere than previously, the team mentioned during the meeting.

"Based on our evaluation, the election can be conducted on the planned date, and the commission is fully equipped to manage it. There is no basis for any uncertainty," stated Bhandari. Nevertheless, he also asked the government to guarantee that all necessary logistics are in place on time and that security measures are appropriately arranged.

"We are proceeding according to our plan and we do not wish for any alterations," stated Bhandari. The commission is conducting discussions with political parties on Thursday to secure their commitment for the timely conduct of the election. It conducted a comparable meeting last month.

Releasing the comprehensive election timetable on October 5, the commission established November 16 as the final date for voter registration and the enrollment of new political parties.

According to the commission's timetable, any groups intending to run in the upcoming elections must register individually. They will have 10 days to do this starting from November 17. Not all organizations that are registered with the commission take part in the voting process.

The position of election officers under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system will begin operations from January 16, 2026," as outlined in the schedule. "An office for the proportional representation (PR) system is scheduled to open on December 1.

The candidates participating in the elections must present the sealed list of nominees for the proportional representation system on January 2 and 3 of the following year.

In the 275-member lower house, 165 representatives are chosen via the FPTP system, whereas the remaining 110 are selected based on proportional representation according to each party's share of the vote. At present, the constitutional election management authority is enrolling new voters for the upcoming elections. According to the commission's report, a total of 18,148,654 voters have been registered as of Chaitra, which marks the end of the Nepali year 2081, occurring in mid-April.

The committee has chosen to allocate a two-week period beginning February 15 for the promotional activities. A two-day quiet period will follow before voting starts at 7 am on March 5. The voting process will remain open until 7 pm on the same day.