Voter registration to begin in all districts

KATHMANDU, March 20: Revising its previous strategy, the Election Commission (EC) has decided to commence voter registration in all the 75 districts this week. Earlier, the EC had decided to carry out voter registration only in 43 districts in the second phase.

“We are launching voter registration process in all the 75 districts, except 31 VDCs in the hilly districts,” Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety informed Republica, adding, “The EC officials will meet all eligible voters during the process.” The EC will carry out voter registration in the 31 VDCs in mid May.


According to Uprety, this would be the first time in EC´s history that officials would meet every adult citizen before registering them as voters.

The registration process had been obstructed for the last six months after Madhes-based parties objected to registration in the voter list on the basis of citizenship.
The Supreme Court ruling on February 9, which ended the longstanding dispute over whether or not to accept other forms of identification documents, had paved the way for EC to collect new electoral roll only on the basis of citizenship.

Uprety informed that EC would train and deploy 91,000 officials for the purpose.

“Our officials will meet all eligible voters during the process because we want to ensure their right to vote. Meeting every citizen, taking their photograph, finger print and personal details will help develop an authentic and reliable electoral roll for free and fair election in the country,” he added.

According to Uprety, nearly Rs 2 billion will be spent for the voter registration process.

“Our aim to complete voter registration in the second phase can only be achieved if political parties, civil society and all stakeholders concerned support us,” Uprety said.

Recently, the EC conducted trainings for master trainers at the central level. The EC will also train officials at the regional level. The central and regional level officials would then train enumerators and computer operators at the district level.

Uprety also informed that it has started sending necessary logistics for voter registration. On Friday alone, the EC dispatched eight fully loaded trucks. “We are using 36 Armed Police Force trucks to dispatch logistics all over the country,” he informed.

Asked about the progress in Tarai districts where EC´s program was obstructed in first phase, Uprety said, “Tarai districts have not witnessed protests recently,” he said. “However, the possibility of protests cannot be completely ruled out.”

Uprety also urged the government to implement the SC´s verdict at the earliest so that their program can move smoothly. “We have already sent a formal letter to the prime minister asking him to implement the SC verdict,” he added.

The Limbuwan, an armed outfit operating in eastern hill districts, has already warned that it would disrupt EC´s program in 12 districts.

“Political problems must be resolved at the political level. We will also meet the prime minister personally to draw his attention to our problems,” Uprety informed.


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