Nepal

Population Statistics

31,551,305

Total Population

4,732,696

Population with a disability

according to World Health Organization’s 15% estimate

Election Dates

07 May 2010

Ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities


The Constitution of Nepal (2017)

Updated: June 2018

Article 18, Right to equality states: 

(1) All citizens shall be equal before law. No person shall be denied the equal protection of law.

(3) The State shall not discriminate citizens on grounds of origin, religion, race, caste, tribe, sex, economic condition, language, region, ideology or on similar other grounds. Provided that nothing shall be deemed to prevent the making of special provisions by law for the protection, empowerment or development of the citizens including the socially or culturally backward women, Dalit, indigenous people, indigenous nationalities, Madhesi, Tharu, Muslim, oppressed class, Pichhada class, minorities, the marginalized, farmers, labours, youths, children, senior citizens, gender and sexual minorities, persons with disabilities, persons in pregnancy, incapacitated or helpless, backward region and indigent Khas Arya.

Article 259, Functions, duties and powers of National Inclusion Commission states:

(1) The functions, duties and powers of the National Inclusion Commission shall be as follows:
(a) to conduct study and research works for the protection of the rights and interests of the communities, including Khas Arya, Pichhada class, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, labours, peasants, minorities and marginalized community, backward class, people of Karnali and the indigent class. 

Excerpt from the Constitution of Nepal (2017) 

Local Level Election Act (2017)

Updated: June 2018

Article 36, Admission to Polling Station states:

(1) The Polling Officer shall not allow any other persons except the following persons to enter into the polling station: 
(f) An immediate family member that accompanies a person with visual impairment or person with physical disability.

 

Article 38, Disabled Voters states:

(1) If any voter is unable to vote by him/herself due to visual impairment or physical disability or due to any other reason and requests permission for his/her immediate family member to accompany him/her and assist in the task of marking the vote or requests the Polling Officer to assist in the task on marking the vote and if the Polling Officer feels it right, he/she can give permission to such immediate family member to enter the place of polling along with such voter or as per the wish of such voter may assist him/her in marking the vote.

 

Excerpt taken from Nepal's Local Level Election Act (2017) 

Election of the Members of the House of Representatives (2017)

Updated: August 2021

Article 41, Admission to Polling Stations states:

The Polling Officer shall not allow other persons, except the following persons, to enter into the polling station:

(a) Voters
(g) An immediate family member that accompanies a person with a visual impairment or person with physical disability 

 

Article 42, Disabled Voters states:

Disabled Voters: If any voter is unable to vote by him/herself due to visual impairment or physical disability or due to any other reason and requests permission for his/her immediate family member to accompany him/her and assist in the task of marking the vote or requests the Polling Officer to assist in the task on marking the vote and if the Polling Officer feels it right, on the basis of the proof of his/her identity card, can give permission to such immediate family member to enter the place of polling along with such voter or according to the wish of such voter may assist him/her in marking the vote.

 

Excerpt taken from Nepal's Election to the Members of the House of Representatives Act (2017) 

Election of the Members of the State Assembly (2017)

Updated: August 2021

Article 41, Admission to polling station states:

The Polling Officer shall not allow other persons, except the following persons, to enter into the polling station:

(a) Voters
(g) An immediate family member that accompanies a person with visual impairment or person with physical disability

Article 42, Disabled Voters states:

If any voter is unable to vote by him/herself due to visual impairment or physical disability or due to any other reason and requests permission for his or her immediate family member to accompany him/her and assist in the task of marking the vote or requests the Polling Officer to assist in the task on marking the vote and if the Polliing Officer feels it right, on the basis of the proof of his or her identity card, can give permission to such immediate family member to enter the place of polling along with such voter or according to the wish of such voter may assist him/her in marking the vote. 

 

Excerpt taken from Nepal's Election to the Members of the State Assembly Act (2017) 

Election of the Members of Constituent Assembly Rules, 2064 (2007))

Updated: June 2015

Article 29, section 3 states:

The Polling Officer or the employee deputed by him or her shall indicate a mark with indelible ink in the joint of nail and flesh on thumb of the left hand of the voter prior to providing a ballot paper to the voter for voting. The mark should be indicated in the index finger, if the voter does not have the thumb of the left hand and in the finger of the right hand likewise in the case of the left hand if the voter does not have such finger of the left hand. If the voter does not have any finger of both hands, provision shall be made that he or she can vote through any person whom he or she chooses.

 

Excerpt from the Election of the Members of Constituent Assembly Rules, 2064 (2007)