President Issues Ordinance to Amend Voter Registration Law

President Ram Chandra Paudel on Wednesday issued an ordinance amending the Voter Registration Act, 2016, his office said, removing legal barriers that had prevented newly eligible citizens from registering to vote.

The President’s Office said in a statement that the ordinance was issued under Article 114(1) of the constitution upon the recommendation of the interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki.

Earlier in the day, President Paudel met Prime Minister Karki at the presidential residence.

Karki’s interim government, formed this month after the Gen Z protest toppled the Oli-led government, has been mandated to hold national elections on March 5 next year.

Under the previous law, voter registration was halted once an election date was announced, preventing many first-time voters from being added to the rolls. However, considering the aspirations of the youths who took part in the protest against corruption and social media, the interim government decided to amend the laws to allow registration of new voters.