KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has recorded over 209,000 new voters and 21 new political parties have applied for registration following the announcement of the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, 2026.
According to EC spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, 122,740 men, 86,785 women, and 27 others have been added to the voter list so far. On November 11 alone, 13,066 men, 10,567 women, and five others were registered. The voter registration and updating process is ongoing across all seven provinces and 70 district election offices from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm daily and will continue until November 16.
Citizens eligible to vote in the upcoming polls must have turned 18 by February 4. Those who will not reach the voting age by then are advised to wait for the next voter list update. For registration, citizens must present their national identity card along with biometric details. Pre-registration online is also available to save time at the registration centers.
The EC has taken steps to manage the crowds at registration sites, including operating in two shifts (six hours each) in districts with over 800 daily registrations. In the Kathmandu Valley, 14 additional staff from the National Identity and Registration Department have been deployed to ensure smooth services.
The total number of political parties registered with the EC has now reached 125. Following the election announcement, 21 new parties have applied for registration, with some already receiving their certificates while others are awaiting approval after party splits or unifications.
According to the Constitution of Nepal, and the Political Parties Act, parties must submit their constitution, manifesto, logo, election symbol, central office address, and details of office-bearers and funding sources to obtain registration. Parties must also reapply for registration for proportional representation elections once the EC publishes the election-related registration notice.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sushila Karki held discussions with Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari and EC officials at the Prime Minister’s Office regarding overall election preparations and government-EC coordination. The talks also addressed ways to facilitate voting for Nepali citizens living abroad and the legal and technical measures required for the same.
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