Kathmandu — The Nepal government has begun exploring practical options to grant voting rights to Nepali citizens living and working abroad. As part of the study, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked Nepali embassies in various countries for opinions on whether and how overseas voting could be implemented.
According to ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri, embassies have been instructed to assess both the technical feasibility and logistical challenges of conducting elections for Nepalis residing outside the country. “We are in the early phase of study and gathering feedback from our missions abroad,” he said.
Logistical and Cost Challenges
Several embassies have already submitted responses. While some have said that overseas voting is possible in principle, most have warned that management, security, and cost factors could be major obstacles.
Diplomatic officials in Asian and Gulf countries said they have started consulting local authorities about procedures and permissions required to organize polling for foreign citizens. “We’ve written to the host government seeking clarity on whether such voting can take place here,” one embassy official told . “So far, we found that among South Asian nations, only the Philippines and Indonesia have allowed their citizens to vote abroad.”
Officials who interacted with election staff from those countries said the process was complex and expensive. “Even in nations that allow it, voter turnout remains low,” said an officer at a Nepali mission in the Gulf. “In one example, out of two hundred thousand registered voters, only about twenty thousand voted.”
Ambassadors have also expressed skepticism about placing ballot boxes in embassies. In some large countries, Nepalis would have to travel thousands of kilometers to reach a polling site. “Someone living in Perth would need to fly to Canberra just to cast a vote,” one official said. “That’s neither affordable nor practical.”
Former Election Commissioner Dol Bahadur Gurung, who previously led a similar study, agrees that the traditional ballot system would not work abroad. “Nepalis are scattered across continents. Expecting them to travel for hours or take flights just to vote isn’t realistic,” he said. “If only a fraction of registered voters participate, it raises questions about legitimacy.”
Election Commission sources also point to the scale of manpower and infrastructure required. With an estimated three million Nepalis abroad, at least 300 polling centers and over 4,000 staff members would be needed, costing the state millions of rupees.
Exploring Digital Alternatives
Some embassies have therefore suggested that the government consider online or electronic voting options for the diaspora. “Gathering voters physically may not be possible, but technology could offer a solution,” said one official preparing to submit such a proposal.
The government is preparing to amend the Election Act through an ordinance to make room for pilot initiatives. The Policy Research Institute has been assigned to study possible models and legal provisions.
Sources say the government may initially grant voting rights to Nepalis in a few selected countries as a trial. However, the Election Commission has cautioned that allowing only certain expatriate groups to vote could create inequality among citizens and has urged a uniform approach.
