Election Commission to Study Discrepancy in Female Voter Registration Numbers

Kathmandu. Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari has stated that the Election Commission will study why the number of women is lower in the total voter population.

At the closing ceremony of the 'Workshop Seminar on Elections and Mass Media & Chief Trainer Training' organized by the Election Commission here on Friday, he informed that a study is being initiated because, according to the 2078 census, although the female population is higher, they appear fewer in the voter rolls.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Bhandari mentioned that when he visited Western Nepal, women aged 50 and 60 told him their names were not on the voter list. He committed to studying this issue and creating an environment where this does not happen in the future.

“The parties are scheduled to bring out their policy and programs through their manifestos this week. Journalists must study whether the issues desired by the current generation are included and publicize them through news. The Commission has brought the parties, who were scattered after the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24 last year, together to create the current election environment,” Bhandari said. He added that the Commission and the media/journalists are two sides of the same coin in successfully conducting elections.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Bhandari informed that a provision for overseas voters to cast their ballots could not be made for this year's election due to the lack of a law allowing it. He noted that the Commission is aiming for a frugal election this time and stated that the Commission has not taken assistance from foreign development partners this time. Fifty journalists working in mainstream media participated in the program.

In the program, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Commission Narayan Prasad Bhattarai provided training with a presentation on 'Key Activities Undertaken by the Commission So Far for the House of Representatives Election-2082', and Joint Secretary Yagya Prasad Bhattarai on 'Key Provisions of the Election Code of Conduct, Implementation Status, and Conduct to be Observed by the Media'.

Similarly, Joint Secretary Rajendra Kumar KC presented and trained on 'Voter Education Special Program, Sample Ballot Paper, Correct Method of Voting, and Causes of Ballot Rejection', Under Secretary Yogesh Aryal on 'Information and Details on the Information Systems Website Operated by the Commission and Observation and Operation of Social Media', and Rajneesh Bhandari on 'Role and Responsibility of Media in Elections and Use and Monitoring of Social Media'.