There are three types of elections in Nepal: elections to the federal parliament, elections to the provincial assemblies and elections to the local government. Within each of these categories, there may be by-elections as well as general elections. Currently three electoral systems are used: parallel voting for the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies, single transferable vote for the National Assembly, and first-past-the-post for local elections.
In 1947, the government of prime minister Padma Shumsher formed a Constitution Reform Committee under the leadership of General Bahadur Shamsher to reform the administration in the country. The Nepal Government Constitutional Law, 1948 envisioned a bicameral legislature with the lower house called Rastra Sabha to have 42 elected members in addition to 28 members nominated by the prime mininster. A provision was also included for an elected Village Panchayat with 5 to 15 members, an elected Municipal Panchayat with 10 to 50 members and an elected District Panchayat with 15 to 20 members. The elections for the bodies would be held on the basis of non-partisan democracy and all adults would have the right to franchise. The law was promulgated but never came into effect.[1] [2]
The Interim Administration Act of Nepal, 1952 promulgated by King Tribhuwan after the end of the Rana regime made provisions an Election Commission for the first time. The act also gave everyone in the country over the age of 21 a right to adult franchise. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1959, prepared under the advice of Sir Ivor Jennings created 109 constituencies in the country and reiterated the right to adult franchise for everyone over the age of 21.
The constitution of 1990 had a provision for a bicameral parliament. The House of Representatives (lower house) and the National Assembly (upper house). The country was divided into 205 constituencies which would elected members to the House of Representatives for a term of five years. The National Assembly had 60 members, 35 of whom would be elected by the electoral college of the House of Representatives, 3 each from the five development regions of Nepal, 15 in total, which would be elected by an electoral college of village, municipalities and districts and 10 members appointed by the monarch. The right to franchise was also extended to everyone over the age of 18.
The Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007, promulgated after 2006 revolution had provisions for a constituent assembly that would draft a new constitution for the newly formed republic. The country was divided into 240 constituencies which would elect members to the Constituent Assembly of Nepal. In addition to this 335 seats to the assembly were to be filled using a proportional representation system and a further 26 members would be appointed. The party list for the proportional voting had reservations for women, Dalits, Indigenous peoples, Madheshis and people from backward areas. Women would also have to make up one-third of the seats in the assembly.[3] [4]
The Constitution of Nepal, 2015 that was drafted by the 2nd Nepalese Constituent Assembly has provisions for a bicameral legislature. The House of Representatives and the National Assembly would be the lower chamber and the upper chamber of the new Federal Parliament of Nepal. The country was divided into 165 constituencies which would elect members to the House of Representatives through first-past-the-post voting and a further 110 members would be elected through the party list proportional representation system. The provincial assemblies were also created for each of the seven provinces of Nepal. The assemblies would be unicameral and would elect 330 members through first-past-the-post voting and 220 members would be elected through the party list proportional representation system. The National Assembly would elect 56 members through an electoral college consisting of members of the lower house, provincial assemblies and the heads and deputy heads of each of the 753 local units in the country.
The Election Commission of Nepal is formed of five Election Commissioners, one of whom is Chief Election Commissioner and acts as the chairperson. They serve one term of six years and are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council. The Chief Election Commissioners and other Election Commissioners must hold a bachelor's degree, must not belong to a political party immediately before their appointment, must have attained the age of forty-five and must possess high moral character.[5]
The Election Commission conducts, supervises, directs and controls the elections for the President, Vice-president, Federal Parliament, State Legislature and local bodies. It prepares a voters' list for the purpose of the election and holds referendums on subjects of national importance as per the Constitution and Federal law.[6]
Following the dissolution of parliament all the Members of Parliament forming the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Nepal are elected. The term for the House of Representatives is five years, except when dissolved earlier. When the House of Representatives is dissolved the power of Federal Parliament is carried out by the National Assembly.[7]
Candidates for each constituency seat are nominated by a political party or stand as independents. Each constituency elects one MP under the first past the post system of election. As well, since Nepal uses a parallel voting system, voters cast another ballot to try to elect MPs through the party-list proportional representation. The current constitution specifies that 165 MPs are elected from the first past the post system and 110 MPs are elected through the party-list proportional representation system. Women should account for one third of total members elected from each party and if at least a third are not elected in the district seats, the party shall have to elect enough women to make up a third of its total number of elected members, through the party-list proportional representation portion of the election.
A party with an overall majority (more seats than all other parties combined) following an election forms the government. If no party has an outright majority by itself, parties can seek to form a coalition that is made up of a majority of members in the chamber and can pass laws.
| Year | Date | Elected members | Nominated members | Constituencies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 general election | 18 February 1959 | 109 | 0 | 109 | |
| 1971 general election | 1971 | 109 | 16 | 109 | |
| 1981 general election | 9 May 1981 | 112 | 28 | 112 | |
| 1986 general election | 12 May 1986 | 112 | 28 | 112 | |
| 1991 general election | 12 May 1991 | 205 | 0 | 205 | |
| 1994 general election | 15 November 1994 | 205 | 0 | 205 | |
| 1999 general election | 3 & 17 May 1999 | 205 | 0 | 205 | |
| 2008 Constituent Assembly election | 10 April 2008 | 575 | 26 | 240 | |
| 2013 Constituent Assembly election | 19 November 2013 | 575 | 26 | 240 | |
| 2017 general election | 26 November and 7 December 2017 | 275 | 0 | 165 | |
| 2022 general election | 20 November 2022 | 275 | 0 | 165 |
Source:[8]
According to Article 86 of the Constitution of Nepal 2015, the members of the National Assembly are elected every six years through an electoral college. In addition to this, one-third of the members are retired every two years for six years by drawing a lottery.[10]
The electoral college consists of members of the provincial assembly and Chairperson/Mayor and Vice Chairperson/Deputy Mayor of the local bodies within the state. Each provincial assembly members vote has a weight of forty eight whereas each Chairperson/Mayor/Vice Chairperson/Deputy Mayor vote has a weight of eighteen. The electoral college elects 56 members to the National Assembly and three members, including one woman, are nominated by the president on the recommendation of the Government of Nepal.
| Year | Date | Elected members | Nominated members | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 Senate election | 10 July 1959 | 18 | 18 | |
| 1991 National Assembly election | 26 June 1991 | 50 | 10 | |
| 1993 National Assembly election | 27 June 1993 | 17 | 3 | |
| 1995 National Assembly election | 13 November 1995 | 16 | 4 | |
| 1997 National Assembly election | 27 June 1997 | 17 | 3 | |
| 1999 National Assembly election | 10 July 1999 | 17 | 3 | |
| 2001 National Assembly election | 27 June 2001 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2018 National Assembly election | 7 February 2018[11] | 56 | 3 | |
| 2020 National Assembly election | 23 January 2020 | 18 | 1 | |
| 2022 National Assembly election | 26 January 2022 | 19 | 1 | |
| 2024 National Assembly election | 25 January 2024 | 19 | 1 |
Following the dissolution of the provincial assembly all the members forming the Provincial Assembly are elected. The term for the Provincial Assembly is five years, except when dissolved earlier.[12]
Candidates for each constituency are chosen by the political parties or stand as independents. Each constituency elects one member under the first past the post system of election. Since Nepal uses a parallel voting system, voters cast another ballot to elect members through the party-list proportional representation. The current constitution specifies that sixty percent of the members should be elected from the first past the post system and forty percent through the party-list proportional representation system. Women should account for one third of total members elected from each party and if one-third percentage are not elected, the party that fails to ensure so shall have to elect one-third of total number as women through the party-list proportional representation.
A party with an overall majority (more seats than all other parties combined) following an election forms the government. If a party has no outright majority, parties can seek to form coalitions.
The first provincial assembly elections in Nepal were held on 26 November and 7 December 2017.
| Year | Date | Elected members | Nominated members | Constituencies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 provincial elections | 26 November and 7 December 2017 | 550 | 0 | 330 | |
| 2022 provincial elections | 20 November 2022 | 550 | 0 | 330 |
See also: List of cities in Nepal and List of gaupalikas of Nepal. Elections are held for the municipal executive and municipal assemblies in municipalities and for the village executive and village assemblies in rural municipalities. The local executive consists of the elected mayor (or chair in rural municipalities), the deputy mayor (or the deputy chair in rural municipalities) and ward chairs of every ward in the local unit elected through first-past-the-post voting and, five female members (four in rural municipalities) and three members of the Dalit or minority community (two in rural municipalities) elected by the local assembly through single non-transferable vote.[15] The assembly consists of the mayor (chair in the case of village assemblies), the deputy mayor (deputy chair in village assemblies), ward chais and four members from each ward of the municipality or rural municipality. Two ward members must be female, one of whom must belong to the dalit community or a minority group. All elections to the village assembly are held on the basis of first past the post system.[16]
| Year | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 local panchayat elections | ||
| 1987 local panchayat elections | ||
| 1992 local elections | 28 and 31 May 1992 | |
| 1997 local elections | 17 and 26 May 1997 | |
| 2006 municipal elections | 8 February 2006 | |
| 2017 local elections | 14 May, 28 June and 18 September 2017 | |
| 2022 local elections | 13 May 2022 |
There has been one referendum held in Nepal, The 1980 governmental system referendum of 2 May 1980.