Civil Society Links Increased Voter Turnout to Ineffective Voter Education in Recent Elections

Kathmandu. Civil society organizations have concluded that the increased number of invalid votes in the recently concluded House of Representatives elections is due to ineffective voter education.

While publicizing the findings of the election observation in Kathmandu on Friday, civil society stated that there was regional disparity in the distribution and access to voter education materials, and that the increased number of invalid votes resulted from the ineffectiveness of voter education.

 Furthermore, Arjun Kumar Bhattarai, Chairman of the NGO Federation, Nepal, and the Civil Society Delegation, informed that the voter roll was flawed, and campaign materials were not removed from within the 300-meter radius of polling stations even up to the day of voting. 

 He also suggested that the Election Commission study the transparency of election expenditures along with their legitimate sources.  He stated that in the coming days, efforts should be made to further strengthen coordination among security agencies to make election security more effective, as well as to reduce rising expenses. 

 Likewise, the society also suggested amending election-related laws and acts to ensure voting rights for Nepali citizens residing in other districts and outside the country, and concluded that the government responsibly fulfilled its duty by completing the elections on time amidst various challenges.