Nepal President Issues Ordinance Amending Voter Registration Act to Allow Gen Z Youth to Vote in Upcoming Elections

KalimNews | 24 Sept 2025 | Kathmandu : President Ramchandra Paudel on Wednesday issued an ordinance amending the Voter Registration Act, 2073 BS (2017 AD), clearing the way for thousands of young voters from the Gen Z generation to participate in the March 5 parliamentary elections. The ordinance was issued in accordance with subsection (1) of Article 114 of the Constitution of Nepal, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

According to the President’s Office, the ordinance modifies Section 4, Subsection 2 (2) of the Act, which had previously barred voter registration once the date of an election was declared. The amended clause now allows the Election Commission to fix a specific period for voter registration even after the House has been dissolved and elections announced. Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai confirmed that the legal hurdle had been removed and that the Commission will immediately meet to set dates for voter registration. He indicated that the body plans to allocate up to 120 days for the entire election process, beginning with fresh registration.

The ordinance followed a meeting earlier in the day between President Paudel and Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki at Sheetal Niwas. On September 12, the day of her appointment, Karki dissolved the House of Representatives and declared elections for March 5 (Falgun 21). Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, who assumed office on September 15, had pledged to ensure that no eligible youth would be excluded from voting. He also announced preliminary work on granting voting rights to Nepalis living abroad, with a study team already formed to explore modalities.

Without this amendment, thousands of first-time voters—including many who led the recent Gen Z movement that toppled the Oli-led coalition—would have been disenfranchised. The ordinance is therefore widely seen as a victory for Gen Z activists, ensuring that the very generation which spearheaded political transformation will now have the chance to shape Nepal’s future at the ballot box.

Gen Z Dialogue Team and Political Aspirations

Amid these developments, a group of Gen Z activists announced that they are preparing to engage in dialogue with both the President and the government. Sudan Gurung, coordinator of the “Hamro Nepal” initiative, told reporters that a negotiation team has been formed to present the movement’s demands. Members of the team include Gurung himself, Purushottam Yadav, Pravesh Lal, Chairman Bhattarai, Pablu Gupta, and Khemraj Saud, among others.

Gurung emphasized that their movement was never about postponing elections but about fulfilling the aspirations of ordinary citizens. He noted that their demands, though supported by the public, have not yet been formally recognized in history or policy documents. The agenda for talks is still being drafted collectively and will be finalized based on public consensus.

When asked about participation in the upcoming election, Gurung confirmed that the Gen Z generation is preparing to launch a new political party that will contest the polls. While he did not disclose the party’s name, he said its aim would be to demonstrate the capacity of young leaders to build a “new Nepal.” He added that independent leaders such as Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah had inspired them by showing electoral success was possible outside of traditional parties, though he clarified he has not personally met Shah. Gurung also suggested efforts are underway to bring prominent reformers like Kuleman Ghising and Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang into a common platform. “If they all want to be prime minister, I am willing to step aside. Our responsibility is to unite them, because the goal is the same: change the country,” he said.

Significance of the Amendment

The amendment marks a crucial step in expanding democratic inclusion. Previously, under Section 4 of the Act, voter registration was prohibited once an election date had been declared. The new provision explicitly states that if the House of Representatives is dissolved before completing its full term, the Election Commission can set a new period for collecting, registering, or updating voter rolls.

Election Commission officials welcomed the change, saying it ensures no eligible youth will be excluded. The Commission is expected to meet within days to finalize the registration timeline.

For many observers, this ordinance is both a legal correction and a symbolic milestone: it addresses immediate gaps in electoral law while also acknowledging the voice of a restless young generation whose protests against corruption, unemployment, and poor governance reshaped Nepal’s political landscape in August and September.

With the ordinance in place, the path is now open for Gen Z and other previously excluded citizens to formally enroll as voters ahead of the March elections, which will be Nepal’s first national polls following the dramatic wave of youth-led mobilization.