The Election Commission (EC) has formed a seven-member study panel under the leadership of Secretary Shankar Prasad Koirala to report on the feasibility of allowing Nepali citizens to vote from abroad.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety said the panel, which will report its findings in around two months, was formed to seek a way to allow non-resident Nepalis and others living abroad to participate in national elections.

Uprety said the team is also going to draft necessary legal changes.

“Recommendations from the study will help develop and effectively implement the proposed setup. The team will dwell on financial constraints to allow voting from abroad,” said Upreti. The commissioner said people living abroad can have a ‘significant impact’ on any electoral process.

According to findings of the 2011 census,1.92 per cent of Nepalis are living abroad.

The seven-member team comprises Jiba Lamichhane, president of Non- Resident Nepali Association; Rajan Khanal, joint secretary at the Finance Ministry; Bhola Siwakoti, joint secretary at the Home Ministry; Arjun Bahadur Thapa, joint secretary at the Foreign Ministry; Raju Man Singh Malla, joint secretary at the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Sharadha Prasad Trital, joint secretary at the EC.

Published on: 16 April 2012 | The Himalayan Times