Kathmandu: Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari has announced that the Election Commission will conduct a study to understand the reasons for the low number of women in the voter registry, despite a higher female population according to the 2078 BS census. This initiative was revealed during the closing programme of the ‘Election and Mass Communication Workshop and Chief Trainer Training’ organized by the Election Commission.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Bhandari shared his observations from a recent visit to western Nepal, where women aged 50-60 reported that their names were missing from the voter list. He emphasized the importance of addressing this issue to ensure it does not recur in future elections. Bhandari also mentioned that political parties have committed to presenting their policies and programmes through manifestos, highlighting the need for journalists to critically analyze these documents to ensure they align with the expectations of the current generation.
Bhandari further described the Election Commission and the media as integral components in the electoral process. He addressed the issue of Nepalis residing abroad being unable to vote in the March 5 House of Representatives elections, citing the absence of a legal framework to facilitate overseas voting. Additionally, he noted the Commission’s efforts to conduct a cost-effective election, acknowledging the lack of support from foreign development partners.
The workshop saw participation from fifty journalists in the mainstream media, who received training on various election-related topics. Commission’s Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, along with other officials, provided presentations on the Commission’s activities, election code of conduct, voter education programmes, and the use of information systems. Journalist Rajanish Bhandari also contributed by discussing the media’s role in elections and the monitoring of social media.