The ordinances
According to parliamentary reports, the National Assembly recently endorsed three ordinances: the Voter List (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, the House of Representatives Member Election (First Amendment) Ordinance 2026, and the Nepal Special Service Act (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2026. Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal presented the proposals, which were passed unanimously and are now part of the legal framework for the upcoming elections.
What changes for the 2026 polls
While full details are still being debated in legal and political circles, the ordinances primarily aim to: - Harmonise voter roll procedures with previous court decisions and technological upgrades. - Clarify timelines and processes under the HoR election law. - Adjust security and special service provisions related to election-period operations. Observers say the changes appear more procedural than transformational, but they will directly affect how electoral rolls are updated and how disputes are handled.
Political and institutional impact
Unanimous passage signals rare cross-party consensus that basic legal housekeeping is necessary before voters head to the polls. For the Election Commission, the updated framework offers clearer backing for voter list clean-up, enforcement of deadlines, and coordination with security agencies. For parties and candidates, the ordinances may tighten some compliance requirements, even if they do not drastically alter the overall electoral system.