Overview This issue of Data Dive is based on ANFREL’s recently released Final Comprehensive Mission Report on Nepal’s 2026 House of Representatives Elections, titled Rebuilding Trust, Restoring Credibility: Accountability and Electoral Integrity in Nepal 2026. The report was launched during ANFREL’s Post-Election Discussion with Electoral Stakeholders in Kathmandu on 13 May 2026.
Final Assessment Mission Report: 2026 House of Representatives Elections in Nepal The March 2026 House of Representatives elections in Nepal were held in the aftermath of a profound political crisis triggered by the 2025 youth-led uprising. What began as protests against a social media ban rapidly evolved into a broader movement demanding
The National Election Observation Committee released their comprehensive observation report on the 2026 House of Representatives Elections in Nepal. NEOC said despite an incomplete composition of commissioners, the Election Commission Nepal managed to make all necessary arrangements for the conduct of the elections. They noted, however, of structural deficiencies with limited access
Executive Summary The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) deployed an International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) to observe Nepal’s 2026 House of Representatives (HoR) elections, held in a politically transitional and polarized environment following the upheaval of September 2025. ANFREL observed that the election day was peaceful and orderly and reflected continued
5 March 2026Kathmandu, Nepal The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) commends the people of Nepal for their participation in the 2026 elections, which were conducted in a peaceful and orderly environment across the areas observed by ANFREL’s International Election Observation Mission. Following a period marked by public protests and civic mobilization
Overview Today, 5 March 2026, Nepalis head to the polls to elect a new House of Representatives, in what is widely regarded as one of the most consequential elections in the country’s recent democratic history. These snap elections were called following the September 2025 political upheaval, which led to the resignation of
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is deploying an International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) for Nepal’s 5 March 2026 House of Representatives election to independently assess both the overall technical administration of the election and the broader conditions for political competition within Nepal’s evolving democratic context. In light of recent political
Executive Summary ANFREL’s Pre-Election Assessment Mission (PEAM) Report on Nepal’s 2026 House of Representatives elections presents an early, risk-focused snapshot of the country’s electoral environment ahead of polling on 5 March 2026, situated in the wider political transition that followed the September 2025 Gen-Z protest wave. The PEAM is the first stage
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is holding a press briefing on Thursday, 26 February 2026 to release the findings of ANFREL's pre-election assessment mission to the 2026 Nepali House of Representatives Elections. ANFREL is also launching its international election observation mission to the 2026 Nepali elections. From 21-30 January 2026,
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)’s delegation met on 6 November 2025 with Nepal’s Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki as part of a high-level courtesy visit ahead of the country’s snap elections on 5 March 2026. The discussion focused on the significance of citizen observation, challenges regarding the implementation of out-of-country
Overview In September 2025, Nepal was rocked by its most intense political unrest in decades. What began as a government-imposed ban on 26 social media platforms quickly ignited a nationwide movement, with thousands of young Nepalis – proudly calling themselves Gen Z – pouring into the streets of Kathmandu, Pokhara, and other
Fellows of the Asian Academy for Electoral Integrity (AAEI) co-facilitated a training on disinformation during elections in Nepal, 27 June 2024, Kathmandu. AAEI fellows Sanat Parajuli and Pratigya Bashyal co-facilitated the training for their colleagues at the National Election Observation Committee (NEOC). Sanat and Pratigya provided a background on the impact of
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT HERE: "Asian Electoral Review: Advancing Electoral Democracy through Electoral Reforms" The year 2024 has been dubbed as the year of elections with more than 50 countries and territories around the world set to hold national and regional elections.1 In the first quarter of the year alone, Bangladesh and
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) met with the officials of the Election Commission, Nepal on 2 September 2023 to discuss preparations for the sixth Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-VI). Last year, ANFREL and ECN signed a memorandum of understanding to co-host AESF-VI in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2023. AESF-VI is also
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) said the 20 November 2022 Nepalese Federal and Provincial Assembly Elections were largely peaceful and orderly but significant inclusion of women and other vulnerable sectors could be improved. ANFREL said in the final comprehensive report of their international election observation mission to the 2022 Nepalese
ANFREL member in Singapore, MARUAH, celebrated their 15th year anniversary while the chairperson of Nepal member National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) received the Human Rights Award. MARUAH, whose work seeks to uphold human rights through research, advocacy, and public education, celebrated their 15th year anniversary this year. Through partnerships with various regional
ANFREL executive director Chandanie Watawala shared the ANFREL interim statement on the election observation findings with Nepal Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya. ANFREL member National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) also shared the findings of their election observation mission to the 2022 Nepali Federal and Provincial Elections. ANFREL's interim statement can be
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) congratulates the people of Nepal for their participation in the 2022 Federal and Provincial Elections, the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) for holding the largely peaceful and orderly polls, as well as domestic election observer groups including EOC-N, Sankalpa, INSEC, BAS, DRCN, ANFREL members NEOC
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) deployed election observation teams in Nepal to observe the 2022 House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies Elections. Some 275 House of Representative seats and 550 members of provincial assemblies were contested. Here are some photos from our election observation teams on the ground:
ANFREL member in Nepal, the National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) deployed 1,062 stationary and mobile observers on 20 November 2022, Election Day, to observe the electoral process. Here are their observations:
ANFREL member in Nepal, the National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) deployed 77 long-term observers across 77 districts in Nepal to monitor the pre-election period ahead of the November 20 Federal and Provincial Elections. Here are their observations:
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) published on 28 September 2022 the report of its pre-election assessment mission to the 2022 Nepali House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies Elections. As Nepal is scheduled to hold general elections on 20 November 2022, ANFREL presented the pre-election environment and challenges in the country,
The General Elections Observation Committee (GEOC) in Nepal released the final report of their observation mission to the 13 May 2022 local elections. GEOC, a network of 11 organizations, said there was “appropriate management” of polling areas with separate queues for men and women and support facilities for persons with disabilities which
Press ReleaseKathmandu, Nepal4 July 2022 The Election Commission, Nepal (ECN) and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-host the sixth Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF 6). The MoU, signed by ECN Joint Secretary Mr. Shaligram Sharma Paudel and ANFREL Executive Director Mrs. Chandanie
The local level election held today has been completed largely peacefully and successfully apart from few sporadic incidents. There was encouraging participation by people with disability, senior citizens and members of all community, and gender. Compared to the past, the parties, candidates and voters all were more patient and peaceful. Except in
The National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) released their public perception survey on electoral risks management in Nepal. The two-month long survey was done from 1 June to 31 July 2019 using a questionnaire containing at least 40 questions to measure various risk factors that may have compromised electoral credibility in the past.
Read the full report here: Nepal 2017 Mission Final Report SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The general election environment was perceived to be peaceful, with no major incidents that could affect the overall integrity of the results observed. Electoral preparations by the ECN were carried out effectively and smoothly, including the deployment of polling staff,
Preliminary Review of Election Observation PRESS STATEMENT The first phase of local level elections, held after the promulgation of the new constitution, for the provinces number 3, 4, and 6 have been conducted with encouraging participation by the voters on May 14, 2017. Despite few obstructions and time constraints, the Election Commission
CONSTITUTION OF NEPAL 2015 Constituent Assembly Secretariat Singha Durbar We, the people of Nepal, in exercise of the sovereign powers inherent in us, Embracing the sovereign right of the people and the right to autonomy and self-rule, by maintaining Nepal’s independence, sovereignty, geographical integrity, national unity, freedom and dignity, Remembering the
Acknowledgements The successful outcome of the second Constituent Assembly (CA) Elections in Nepal is due primarily to the commitment of the people of Nepal to a democratic political transition. Therefore, at the very outset ANFREL would like to congratulate the people of Nepal for showing their faith in the electoral process and
