The next elections we have a major problem in #Nepal even though we have the right to vote, most of us may not be able to vote. Why ? you may ask: Here’s why. A lot of Nepalis just can’t afford to vote.

I am sorry but most of you reading this probably won’t be able to vote because:

1) you now live in a city in #Nepal to study, to work, to hunt for jobs, and cannot afford to go back to your remote village to vote. (you can only vote from where you registered. so too bad if you are poor).
2) you are out of the country (so 2.7 million Nepalis not allowed to vote)
3) you are under the age of 25 (since the laws governing CA elections mention only people over 18 years on the year 2006 can vote)

Many Nepalis in the last 6 years have resettled or gone to study in urban Nepal to barely make a living. They cannot go back to their remote villages to vote.

Take a look at my friend, Ang Raj from Jumla. He is in Kathmandu now trying to start a social business that makes products from remote places like Jumla find market in Kathmandu. He has to pay Rs, 22,000 to take a plane to go up to Jumla and vote, then come back. (Since he can’t get regular flights, this process takes a week at least). If he goes by foot it takes nearly a week from Surkhet. (Total time : at least 2 weeks). If he takes the most dangerous road across Surkhet, Dailekh, Kalikot to Jumla, it’s not cheap either nor safe.

So can you really afford to vote  in the next elections ?

Isn’t it time to join hands to get rid of this nonsense and make sure these issues are addressed by the next elections?

 

Call Election Commission now!
Kantipath, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: (977-1) 4228663
Fax: (977-1) 4229227
E-mail: [email protected]
www.election.gov.np 

(This research based on interaction with Election Commission bureaucat (सचिव) Gyan darshan Udhas in Kantipath)