The Sushila Karki-led government, which is mandated to hold midterm elections on March 5, 2026, is in the process of laying the ground for them. Through an ordinance, it removed the legal barrier that prohibited voter registration after the announcement of poll dates. It also extended the voter registration process till November 21 from the previous date of November 16. Now, with only around four months left until elections, the Election Commission has decided to launch a voter education campaign next month. For the election, the interim government has set aside Rs4.96 billion, which also includes funds for voter education. This is a much-needed step.

To cut the number of invalid votes, in its initial plan, the EC aims to make announcements through national and local radio and television stations. Additionally, it will disseminate awareness information via newspaper ads, online news portals, YouTube and social media platforms. That is not all. The EC has also decided to cover those who don’t have access to online tools by deploying volunteers in every ward for in-person instructions on the correct method of voting, using sample ballot papers.

Voter education is a prerequisite for a successful election. It enables voters to avoid confusion through greater awareness of the design of the ballot paper as well as the correct marking and folding method. In every election in Nepal, invalid votes have been a major concern. We only need to look at the number of past invalid votes to understand why effective awareness campaigns are vital. In the local and federal elections of 2017, invalid votes were high in number—around 17 percent in local and over 14 percent in parliamentary. Likewise, in the November 2022 House of Representatives elections, 5.06 percent of votes cast were invalid. The challenge is even bigger this time as there will be tens of thousands of first-time voters. There is a strong case for a focused election education campaign.

As vital is ensuring everyone casts their votes by emphasising the whys of voting. In the November 2022 federal elections, the voter turnout stood at around 61 percent, meaning approximately 40 percent of eligible voters didn’t cast their votes. This trend is concerning. As the public dissatisfaction with the country’s political class grows—which was also one of the primary reasons for the September Gen Z protest—we cannot say how willing people are to face the voting booths again. Nonetheless, the EC’s voter education campaign must address this issue by making voters realise that voting is not just their right, but also their duty to set the country on the track they envision. They should be able to convince frustrated voters that their vote counts and can be vital in electing the right candidate.

While the EC is mainly responsible for voter awareness campaigns, even political parties, international organisations, civil society bodies and the media must do their bit. Informed and educated family members or even community youth leaders can contribute when necessary. Nepalis will be casting their votes under different circumstances this time. Taking advantage of this, there could be efforts at political manipulation, with promulgation of misleading and biased information targeting the elections. Only a well-informed electorate can counter such false narratives and ensure free and fair elections.