The Election Commission (EC) of Nepal is working to secure voting rights for Nepalis living overseas, according to its chief.
In an interview with The Rising Nepal, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said that the EC is in contact with the relevant countries through diplomatic channels to grant the right to vote from abroad to Nepali citizens.
He said that the existing election laws do not allow Nepalis living abroad to cast their ballots, and that the EC has proposed to amend the laws to enable them to participate in the electoral process.
He also said that the EC has suggested to amend some other election laws and the Political Parties Act to address the issues of party division and representation.
He said that the EC has achieved many milestones in managing elections in Nepal, such as conducting the first local, provincial and federal elections under the new constitution, introducing biometric voter registration, and using electronic voting machines in some constituencies.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by the EC, such as ensuring security, maintaining neutrality, and managing logistics.
He said that the EC is committed to conducting free, fair, and cost-effective elections in the future, and that it needs technological advancement, election education, capacity building, and structural improvement to do so.
