Kathmandu, 22 August (H.S.): Nepal Home Minister Sudan Gurung has urged the government to incorporate necessary legal provisions in the proposed legislation to enable voters living abroad, as well as those residing outside their constituencies, to exercise their right to vote.

He made the request during a discussion with the Election Commission on the draft Election Management Bill and proposed electoral reforms.

Gurung also urged the Election Commission to begin the necessary technical preparations in line with the proposed arrangement. He said the present government is committed to ensuring voting rights for Nepali citizens residing abroad.

The Home Minister said the government had made concerted efforts during the previous elections to enable Nepali citizens living overseas to cast their votes. However, the arrangement could not be implemented at the time due to certain technical constraints. He asked the Election Commission to take the necessary measures to address the difficulties encountered during the previous election.

Chief Election Commissioner Man Bahadur Karki said legal, institutional and technical preparations for implementing the proposed system had already begun. He expressed hope that the government would provide the resources and manpower required to put the arrangement into effect.

Karki said the Election Commission was actively working to further strengthen the integrity, independence and fairness of elections and to improve the electoral process and system in accordance with the aspirations of ordinary voters.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar