At the request of the Prime Minister's Office and the Election Commission, the Policy Research Institute has begun a study on the provision of allowing Nepali citizens abroad and voters outside the constituency to vote.

The foundation had a discussion with stakeholders on Sunday on this issue. During the discussion, stakeholders discussed the possibilities and challenges of making arrangements for voting for Nepalis living abroad and voters outside the constituency.

Experts commented that although it is possible to make both types of voters participate in the elections, there are many challenges. They emphasized that although it is not possible to give the right to vote to Nepalis living abroad and voters from other districts everywhere, they should participate in the upcoming House of Representatives elections on 21 Falgun, even if it is a trial.

Nepalis living abroad can be made to participate in voting through online or electronic voting, and for that, the commitment and initiative of the government and the commission are required. - Dolakha Bahadur Gurung, former Acting Chief Election Commissioner Most experts argued that Nepalis living abroad can be made to participate in online (i) voting. Some suggested that arrangements should be made for direct voting at the embassy. Their suggestion was that preparations should be made immediately, from drafting laws to compiling voter lists.

The Supreme Court had issued a directive order on 9 Chaitra 2074 in the name of the government and the commission to provide voting rights to adult Nepalis living abroad. A joint bench of Justices Sapana Malla Pradhan and Purushottam Bhandari had ordered to make legal arrangements for voting for Nepalis living abroad.

The Supreme Court issued the order on a writ petition filed by the Law and Policy Forum for Social Justice demanding that Nepalis living abroad should not be deprived of their right to vote. The Supreme Court had also directed the Election Commission to formulate the necessary laws within three months to provide the opportunity to vote to Nepalis living abroad.

However, due to the apathy of political parties and the government, the Supreme Court's order was not implemented. The draft of the Unified Election Bill prepared by the commission two years ago had proposed to collect the details of Nepali citizens living abroad in the voter list. However, the government did not take the draft forward either. While the Supreme Court has repeatedly urged the government and the commission to implement its order. This issue has once again gained importance after the Gen-G movement of 23-24 Bhadra. In the

program, former Acting Chief Election Commissioner Dolakh Bahadur Gurung said that Nepalis living abroad can be made to participate in voting through online or electronic voting. He pointed out that the commitment and initiative of the government and the commission are required for that.

‘In 2064, the Election Commission had conducted a survey of Nepali voters living abroad. But they have not been able to vote yet. Political consensus is essential for making them participate in voting,’ he said, ‘Access to the elections for both big and small political parties and candidates must be ensured.’ He commented that without political consensus and without access to candidates, the elections will be as unreliable and meaningless as the 2062 local level elections.

The institute's chairman, Professor Lekhnath Sharma, said that the institute will submit a report on these two issues to the government within a few weeks. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Election Commission had discussed this issue with the institute earlier as well. Although in principle, Nepali citizens living abroad and voters outside the constituency should participate in voting, there is confusion about how to do so, Sharma said.

'Although there have been many suggestions that Nepalis living abroad should participate in online voting, our infrastructure is not reliable for that. The server is down during the compilation of the voter list. We will reach a conclusion after further discussions with technical experts,' Sharma said. He said that the report will be submitted to the government, including various options, possibilities and challenges.

Guarantee of voting rights The voting rights of Nepalis living abroad should be guaranteed this time. You can go for i-voting. For that, there should be no delay in starting the voter list registration process. - Badri KC, NRNA President Legal practitioner and election system expert Chandrakant Gyawali pointed out that although there is a constitutional provision allowing Nepalis living abroad to vote, there are many legal and other complications. ‘The government can open a legal path through an ordinance.’ But it is very challenging in terms of management,’ he said. ‘Polling centers can be set up in the embassies of the respective countries, but who will provide security there?’

However, saying that it is not possible, one cannot get rid of the right to vote, he suggested that an alternative should be found. ‘Employees, soldiers, police, and prisoners have also been provided with proportional representation only later,’ he said. ‘Therefore, voters living abroad should also be allowed to participate in the elections both directly and proportionally.’

Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Krishna Subedi pointed out that although it is possible to vote by setting up polling centers in some embassies, it is impossible in all countries. Pointing to Gulf countries where political activities are banned, he said that there is no possibility of holding election activities there. ‘There may be difficulties in some places due to security, manpower and technology,’ Subedi said.

In countries where election activities can be held, he said that there is a possibility of holding proportional voting by designating centers at embassies. AIG Uma Prasad Chaturvedi of Nepal Police commented that although online voting is possible, implementation is very challenging. Citing the example of India, he said that it is not possible to get everyone to participate in digital voting.

‘Nepali workers in India cannot be brought to digital voting. They do not have access to mobile phones,’ he said, ‘There is also the problem of dual citizenship. Security alertness is very necessary.’ He said that the police are capable of holding elections within the country. ‘We are planning a security strategy for the Falgun elections,’ AIG Chaturvedi added.

Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) President Badri KC said that giving the right to vote to Nepalis living abroad through an online system would be easier, simpler and cheaper than printing ballot papers. ‘Online voting is cheaper than printing ballot papers,’ he said, ‘We will provide technical and financial support to give the right to vote to non-resident Nepalis.’

He said that the technology used by NRNA in leadership selection and the technology used in elections in any country in the world can be introduced to Nepal. ‘Voting rights should be guaranteed to Nepalis living abroad this time. You can go for i-voting. There should be no delay in starting the work of registering the voter list,’ said President KC. He said that credibility can be increased by double verification in the compilation of the voter list and voting. He also said that the Election Commission should make arrangements for candidates and political parties to monitor and observe online voting.