Post-Election Review Highlights Need for Sweeping Reforms in Nepal's Electoral System

Kathmandu. Although the House of Representatives election was held peacefully, the experiences from it have indicated the necessity for radical policy reforms in the electoral system. The research recently conducted by 'Chetana Project,' which is active in making the electoral process cleaner and more economical, has pointed out the need for reforms ranging from fixing the date of periodic elections in the constitution itself to establishing a separate code of conduct for social media.

The study report by Samagra Bikas Sewa Kendra and Freedom Studio concluded that a separate legal mechanism is required to control hate speech and disinformation observed on online platforms during elections. According to Project Director Dr. Premraj Dhungel, the trend of candidates changing parties after the election announcement must be stopped through law, and civic education should be included in the school curriculum. Specifically, it was suggested to implement a transparent system for verifying the authenticity of election expenditure details, rather than limiting them merely to formality.

The report emphasized ensuring internal democracy and accountability within political parties, noting that the Election Commission itself should formulate a special policy for the security and privacy of women candidates. It highlighted the need to develop an 'early warning system' to address potential violence and disputes during elections and to establish a mechanism for immediate action against law violators. During the three-month study, over 300 conflict incidents were recorded, with Bagmati Province and Kathmandu District being the most prominent areas.

Furthermore, Advocate Sagar Ghimire stated that details regarding candidate disqualification and blacklisting must be clear before voting to prevent the wastage of voter ballots. Stakeholders also drew attention to making the upcoming elections more technology-friendly by using electronic voting machines, implementing an 'open list system' for proportional representation, and arranging 'advance voting' for Nepalis working abroad. The report also included a suggestion for establishing a separate judicial path to quickly resolve election-related disputes.