Long-running demand, slow progress
Overseas Nepali networks, migrant workers’ unions and rights organisations have for years urged the state to implement provisions that allow citizens abroad to vote in federal elections, either through postal ballots, embassies or early voting mechanisms. Court decisions and parliamentary discussions in the past have acknowledged the principle of this right but have not led to a full legal and logistical framework.
Ahead of the March 5 election, these groups argue that exclusion of migrant workers, students and long-term residents abroad from the voter roll weakens the link between remittances, taxation and representation. They are calling for a time-bound roadmap after the polls, so that the next election cycle does not repeat the same pattern.
Election officials, on the other hand, stress the complexity of verifying identity, preventing fraud and coordinating with host countries. For 2026, they have focused on ensuring that citizens who return home before voting day can cast their ballots at their permanent or temporary addresses as per existing law, while promising further study on out-of-country voting models.