KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 13

The Nepal Policy Institute (NPI) has submitted a nine-point policy recommendation to the Election Commission, Nepal (ECN) outlining practical measures to enable Nepali citizens living abroad to participate in the 2026 national elections.

Drawing on international experience and technology-driven innovations, the NPI policy brief proposes a hybrid model of external voting. It recommends short-term, feasible steps for introducing technology-friendly voting systems that can include millions of Nepalis working and studying overseas. The brief provides evidence-based guidance on voter registration, identity verification, technology selection, and country-specific implementation models.

NPI Chair Dr Khagendra Raj Dhakal, who led the drafting team, said: 'Considering Nepal's migration patterns and socio-economic realities, the Philippines and Mexico offer tested pathways that Nepal can adapt quickly to ensure the participation of overseas citizens as early as 2026.'

The policy recommendation brief, titled 'External Voting for Nepali Citizens Abroad: Options for the 2026 Election and Beyond,' was formally presented to the Election Commission on October 8, followed by discussions with Election Commissioner Dr Janaki Tuladhar, ECN Secretary Mahadev Panth, and other senior officials. The NPI delegation was led by Executive Member Sharu Joshi Shrestha.

This submission forms part of NPI's ongoing collaboration with the Election Commission that began since the 2022 general elections, through which the institute has been providing datadriven, evidence-based policy research, analysis and recommendations.

NPI is an independent, non-profit global policy think tank supported by the Nepali diaspora for the sustainable development of Nepal and Nepali everywhere. With a network of over 1,000 experts across 46 countries, the institute focuses on generating policy insights on migration, diaspora engagement, governance, and education. Over the past eight years, NPI has been conducting sustained dialogues, studies, and policy consultations on enabling external voting for Nepali citizens abroad.

The Kathmandu Secretariat of NPI confirmed that the policy brief has also been shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM).

The NPI policy brief situates its recommendations within the political developments following the September 2025 Gen-Z-led revolt, which resulted in parliament's dissolution and the formation of an interim government that has announced new national elections for March 5, 2026. NPI views this election as an opportunity to promote inclusive democratic participation among all Nepali citizens, both at home and abroad.

Dr Dhakal emphasized that 'a large majority of Nepali citizens living overseas are young people who contribute equivalent to nearly one-third of Nepal's GDP through personal remittances. Yet, they remain deprived of their constitutional, human, and democratic right to vote. Excluding these 'economic heroes' of Nepal from shaping the nation's political future weakens not only the legitimacy of elections but also the essence of democracy itself.'

He added that the Constitution of Nepal (2015) guarantees voting rights to all citizens, and the

The Supreme Court has already directed the government to make provisions for voting from abroad. 'Ignoring over four million Nepalis abroad risks undermining the credibility of national elections,' he warned, adding that enabling their participation would strengthen Nepal's democracy, making it more inclusive, legitimate, and accountable.