Elections in Nepal

Federal elections include the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. The House of Representatives has 275 seats: 165 members are elected from individual constituencies by first-past-the-post voting, and 110 members are selected through nationwide proportional representation using closed party lists. Parties need at least 3% of valid proportional votes to receive proportional seats, which also follow inclusion requirements for women, Dalits, Indigenous Nationalities, Khas Arya, Madhesi, Tharu, Muslims and people from backward regions. The House normally serves for up to five years, although it can be dissolved earlier. On 5 March 2026, voters elected 164 party candidates and one independent candidate in the 165 constituency contests, alongside 110 proportional-representation members; 18,903,689 voters were registered. The National Assembly is a permanent upper house with 59 members and six-year terms. Fifty-six members are elected indirectly by an electoral college made up of provincial assembly members and rural-municipality and municipality leaders. Each province elects eight members, including at least three women, one Dalit and one person with a disability or from a minority community. The President appoints three members on the government's recommendation, including at least one woman. The President and Vice-President are also elected indirectly by an electoral college of federal parliament and provincial assembly members through weighted votes. A candidate must be at least 45 years old, and the two offices must be held by people of different genders and communities. Each Provincial Assembly uses a mixed system: 60% of its members come from first-past-the-post constituency contests and 40% from proportional party lists. At the local level, voters directly elect municipality mayors and deputy mayors, rural-municipality chairs and deputy chairs, and ward chairs. Each ward also elects four members, including two women and one Dalit woman. Parties must nominate at least one woman for a municipality's mayor and deputy-mayor posts together, or for a rural municipality's chair and deputy-chair posts together. District Coordination Committees are elected indirectly by local-level representatives. The ECN operates through Chief and District Election Offices and Returning Officers. Voter registration is generally ongoing through District Election Offices, District Administration Offices and announced mobile teams. Registration requires a citizenship certificate, a photograph and biometric data; online pre-registration is followed by personal attendance for identity and biometric recording. A voter can be registered in only one constituency and must have a permanent residence in the relevant constituency or ward. A voter can request correction of the roll, including after moving or marrying, with the relevant relocation or marriage document. Nepalese citizens living abroad do not have a regular overseas voting process under the documented current practice; ECN information refers to registration while they are in Nepal. Voting is secret. Depending on the election, a voter marks a constituency candidate or a party symbol for proportional representation. The ECN determines polling places, polling stations and the election program. A voter ID is normally used, but an original citizenship certificate, National ID, passport, driving licence or land-ownership certificate can also be accepted when the name appears in the voter roll. Electronic voting is not documented as a regular procedure. Campaigning is prohibited during the 48 hours before polling day and until polling stations close. Parties and candidates must follow the applicable code of conduct, disclose campaign income and spending, and use a separate bank account where the current ECN rules require it. The 2026 House constituency spending limits varied by region at approximately NPR 25 to 33 lakh, and spending disclosure was due within 35 days after the result. The ECN checks nominations, handles objections and publishes final candidate lists, election symbols and results. Accredited observers may monitor proceedings but may not intervene or publish results before the ECN. Local election officials verify ballot materials and count votes in the presence of permitted candidate or counting representatives. Federal and provincial election disputes are brought under the relevant law before the Supreme Court's Constitutional Bench, while code-of-conduct complaints can be submitted orally, in writing or electronically to the ECN, Chief Returning Officer, Returning Officer, Election Office or district monitoring bodies. Vote buying, gifts, hospitality intended to influence voters, intimidation, double voting, voting for another person, disinformation and hate speech are prohibited. Voter registration and voting through the ECN do not carry a voter fee. The election program sets nomination, list, objection, withdrawal and polling dates. After a final House result, the Federal Parliament must be called within 30 days. The President appoints a prime minister from the majority parliamentary faction or, when no party has a clear majority, a member who can demonstrate support from at least two parties and a majority basis. The appointed prime minister must obtain a confidence vote within 30 days; if the constitutional steps fail, dissolution and a new election within six months may follow.