The only answer to the many questions raised by the Gen-G movement is elections. President Ram Chandra Poudel appointed Sushila Karki as Prime Minister and entrusted her with the responsibility of holding elections on 21 Falgun. The interim government even paved the way for Nepali citizens, especially Gen-G, whose names were not on the voter list to register their names on the voter list by amending the law through an ordinance.

The country is also expecting a big change through this election. However, there has been no significant increase in the number of voters.

Only about one lakh new names have been registered in the voter list so far. This number is low against the backdrop of the trumpet of change blown by the Gen-G movement and the expectation of generational transfer. As the elections on 21 Falgun are approaching, such slow progress is not only an administrative problem, but also a challenge to democratic representation. The question arises – whose fault is this? The Election Commission? The political parties? Or the lack of political consciousness among Gen-G?

The voter list is not just a formal paper process. It is the first democratic relationship between the citizen and the state. Being registered in the voter list means registering one's existence in the country's electoral process. But when eligible citizens, especially the Gen-G generation, are not registered in the voter list, it can also mean dissatisfaction with the electoral system and a lack of political consciousness.

The leaders of the Gen-G movement are found to be seriously dissatisfied with the current democratic system. After the movement that started with the demand for a change in the situation, demands for a change in the system have also arisen – some want to save the constitution, some want to abolish it, some want a king, and some want a directly elected executive. In a democracy, all these demands can be fulfilled, but there is a process, a method for that too. The Gen-G generation does not seem to have much faith in the process and method.

Although some Gen-G groups, who have understood the importance of elections in a democracy, have even applied to the Election Commission to open political parties. However, the number of people who understand the importance of elections and register their names on the voter list is lower than expected. The lack of increase in the voter list is not just a statistical problem, but also a sign of democratic health. When the younger generation – especially Gen-G – seems to be apathetic about registering their names, it is not only due to lack of time, but also due to lack of faith in the democratic system.

Another major reason for the lack of increase in the number of voters is the lack of resources, lack of preparation, and weak institutional coordination. Even though the Election Commission has launched the voter registration ‘pre-registration’ system, there is still a compulsion to reach the district headquarters for biometrics. The inability to mobilize the equipment required to collect biometric details, such as cameras, fingerprints, digital signature devices, etc. at the municipal level has also had a major impact on the collection of voter registrations.

Earlier, the commission used to set up temporary structures at the municipal or local level and send teams. The lack of such initiatives this time is the main reason for the reduced effectiveness of the voter registration campaign. The main reason for this is attributed to lack of budget and human resources. The commission repeatedly makes excuses for not having enough resources, but this is not a new problem. Even in the current situation, not prioritizing election preparations without finding a solution to this problem means that the government and the commission are not paying attention to the main backbone of democracy.

The Gen-G movement is widely discussed in the country. There is also awareness. But it is mainly limited to Kathmandu and big cities. Youth in rural areas are still at a distance from the political system. Since they still have to go to the district headquarters for biometrics, registering their names in the voter list has become a hassle rather than an excitement. The government has announced that ‘you can go to the nearest election office and get your voter ID card’, but it is ironic that this facility is limited to the district headquarters.

The commission does not seem to be fully prepared for eligible voters living abroad. Voting is their constitutional right, but there is no practical feasibility study for it. In this way, the problem is not only one of ‘technical access’ but also of political priority. The main responsibility of the interim government is to hold elections. However, as both the government and the commission have not made the voter list collection campaign a serious national agenda, citizen participation is declining.

In addition to administrative weaknesses, there is also a lack of joint coordination between the local level, political parties and the administration. This is also a reflection of our political and social outlook. Political parties should play an important role in the electoral system, but this time their attention seems to be focused on their own internal disputes and power struggles rather than on voter list collection.

Some are trying to unify and some are in the process of division. Some are spending energy on preparations for the general convention. In such a situation, elections have not been their priority. As a result, both the activity and responsibility of political parties in compiling the voter list seem to be low. This apathy is not just a failure of the commission, but a weakness of the entire political culture. 

Gen-G seems to be politically active on social media: they have created buzz on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. But those campaigns are only accessible to a limited group. Democracy is not strengthened by posting on Facebook alone, it is done by voting. If the commission had established temporary structures at the municipal or local level, the voter registration rate could have increased significantly. The commission should now consider the voter list not just as a technical process, but as a campaign to restore democratic trust.

Now there is less than 2 weeks left to register names in the voter list. Some steps are needed for that. First, mobile teams and temporary structures should be operated at the municipal level so that citizens of remote areas can also register easily.

Second, a real participatory campaign should be launched with direct access to schools, universities and workplaces, targeting the Gen-G generation, which can instill a sense of political responsibility and enthusiasm among the youth. Third, a broad public awareness campaign should be prioritized, so that citizens understand the importance of voter registration and are motivated to actively participate in the democratic process.