Memorandum submitted to ECN over the concerns raised on paid access to voter information

The Election Commission, through the First Amendment to the House of Representatives Member Election Directive, 2082, has permitted political parties and independent candidates to obtain digital copies of the voter list upon payment of NPR 10,000 (nationwide), NPR 5,000 (provincial), and NPR 3,000 (district or constituency). Although the data excludes dates of birth, citizenship numbers, and mobile numbers, it still contains personal information. In this regard, Digital Rights Nepal has submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN), strongly objecting to this provision. It states that the disclosure of voter information such as voter ID numbers, age, gender identity, and parents’ names violates the Constitution of Nepal and the Privacy Act, 2075. DRN warns that the release of such sensitive personal data enables profiling, poses heightened risks to gender minorities, and undermines privacy, democratic integrity, and public trust in the electoral process.
Digital Rights Nepal therefore demands the immediate suspension of the paid-access arrangement, a review of voter information already made publicly available online, and amendments to the directive in line with constitutional and legal safeguards, following meaningful consultation with civil society, legal experts, and human rights defenders.

Click here to read the memorandum.