The amendment allows newly eligible youth to vote in 2026 elections, following protests over their exclusion under previous election laws
Kathmandu
Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel on Wednesday issued an ordinance amending the Voter Roll Act, 2016, allowing Gen-Z voters to be added to the electoral list ahead of next year’s polls. The change addresses a legal gap that had barred voter registration after election dates were announced.
The amendment to Section 4(2)(2) follows the interim government’s call for elections on March 5, 2026. Previously, the law prevented eligible citizens who reached voting age after the announcement from registering, excluding thousands of youth from participating. Youth leaders had strongly campaigned for reform, saying tens of thousands of young voters would otherwise miss their chance to vote.
The ordinance comes after political upheaval in September, when violent protests led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, claiming 74 lives. Following this, President Paudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister. She dissolved the House of Representatives and set a six-month period to hold elections.
The Election Commission reports that by mid-April 2025, Nepal had 18,148,654 registered voters, up from 17,988,570 in the previous general election of November 2022. The amendment ensures that all newly eligible voters, especially from Gen-Z, can register in time for the upcoming elections.
President Paudel said the change would ensure “broader participation” and strengthen democracy. Youth representatives welcomed the move, calling it a victory for voter rights and political inclusion, and a step toward empowering young voters in Nepal’s democratic process.
