Nepali Migrant Workers to Remain Deprived of Voting Rights as Election Nears, Strong Support for Online Voting

With the government announcing Falgun 21 as the date for the House of Representatives election, political activities have intensified across the country. Political parties are actively engaged in campaigning, and discussions about the election and its possible outcomes are taking place from tea shops to public squares. However, Nepali citizens living abroad will once again be deprived of their right to vote in this election. Stakeholders have strongly criticized the government for failing to ensure voting rights for Nepalis abroad.

Although the issue of voting rights for Nepalis living overseas is raised during every election, the government has yet to establish a practical voting mechanism. Meanwhile, a survey titled “Perceptions of Nepali Migrant Workers on Voting from Abroad” conducted by the Migrant Network and the Forum for Law and Policy on Social Justice shows that Nepalis working abroad are highly interested in participating in elections held in Nepal.

According to the survey, 94.1 percent of respondents supported electronic or internet-based voting. Similarly, 35.3 percent favored proxy voting, 43.1 percent preferred in-person voting, and 32.9 percent supported postal voting. Overall, 43 percent of migrant workers stated that they would exercise their voting rights if allowed to vote from abroad, while 41 percent said they “might” vote.

Regarding the motivation to vote, 42.4 percent cited emotional, social, and informational ties with their homeland and interest in political changes taking place in Nepal. Another 42 percent emphasized the need to protect democratic rights, while 39 percent expressed willingness to contribute to Nepal’s political process.

The survey also revealed that youth participation in the 2022 elections increased significantly compared to 2017. In the 2022 local elections, 58 percent of migrant workers participated, while 56.6 percent took part in the federal and provincial elections. However, 41.1 percent of surveyed youths reported that they had not participated in any election to date.

From a practical feasibility perspective, 43.4 percent of youths believed that voting from abroad is possible. Legal barriers were identified as the main obstacle by 42.3 percent of respondents, followed by technical challenges and lack of awareness.

A total of 6,485 Nepali migrant workers from the Middle East and Malaysia participated in the survey, with the majority being male. The highest participation was seen among the 25–38 age group. Provincially, migrant workers from Koshi Province recorded the highest participation rate.

The survey clearly indicates that Nepali youths abroad strongly view voting rights as an essential pillar of democracy. However, in the absence of necessary legal and technical arrangements by the government, they continue to be deprived of their constitutional right to vote.