KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Pradeep Paudel has urged the Election Commission (EC) and the government to extend the voter registration deadline, citing widespread complaints about long queues and slow service at registration centers.
In a video statement released on Thursday, the former minister said that many citizens have been forced to return without registering due to delays. He demanded that the registration deadline, currently set to end by the end of Kartik (November 16), be extended to ensure everyone’s participation in the upcoming election.
“The process at registration centers is not smooth,” Paudel said. “People wait in long lines to take photos but are often unable to complete registration. If the situation continues, many, including Gen-Z youths, could be left out.”
Paudel argued that the EC and government have failed to facilitate the process as publicly promised, saying that additional time and resources are essential to handle the large number of applicants.
He called for faster, more organized service delivery, adding more staff and equipment at registration offices to make the process effective and inclusive.
Paudel also appealed to Gen-Z and citizens of all age groups to register and exercise their democratic rights, emphasizing that voter registration ensures every individual the chance to directly choose their representatives.
The Nepali Congress leader further proposed that the voting age be lowered to 16 and the minimum age to contest elections be reduced from 25, arguing that “only through broader participation can people elect representatives who truly reflect public aspirations.”
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