ICT and Election Management:
The Nepalese Experience
Presented By
Neel Kantha Uprety
Chief Election Commissioner of Nepal
upretyneil@gmail.com
Introduction
Nepal
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A Federal Democratic Republic in Asia
Area: 147,181 Sq. Km (Mountain and Hill 83%, Plains 17%)
Eight of the world’s 14 mountains of over 8,000m are in
Nepal including the EVEREST
Population: Approx. 27 Million (Male 49 % , Female 51%)
Literacy Rate: Approx. 66%
Languages: 92
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Election Commission established in 1950.
Five member Election Commission a constitutional body.
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Background of ICT Use
 Computers were introduced for the first time in
1986 to prepare electoral rolls.
 Since 1999, computer use extended beyond
electoral roll preparation.
 ICT used for election result processing
dissemination of election results.
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CA Election 2008 and ICT
Electoral Roll Preparation
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Periodic (annual) door to door collection and updating.
Digital data entry from a manual register at 75 district
election offices.
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Data aggregated to a centralized digital voter register.
Voter list published in ECN Website with facility to
search for names.
Independent assessments found duplicate and
erroneous registrations including deceased and
underage voters.
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CA Election 2008 and ICT
Supporting ICT Systems
 VPN Connectivity to 41 out of 75 districts.
 Information transfer from district to ECN
using web application and fax machines.
 EVM was first used in one constituency in
Constituent Assembly election 2008.
 ECN adopted EVM in all the six
constituencies for the CA by-Elections in
2009.
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Strategic Plan (2009-2013) and ICT
 Establish a new voter register that includes voters’ photograph
and finger prints.
 Record information of polling stations in a Geographic
Information System (GIS).
 Link the Commission and all field offices through a secure ICT
network.
 Implement election management information systems in the
commission and field offices.
 Use the Internet to provide updated election information.
 Use Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) for polling.
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Voter List with Photo Program
Inception and Pilot Project
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Voters Registration study visits made to selected countries.
Hybrid methodology adopted including both door to door
enumeration and registration centers visit by electors.
Project linkages established to facilitate establishment of
national identity and civil registration for Nepal.
Collection of voter data including photograph and four
fingerprints for all citizens of 16 years and above.
Pilot projects conducted in seven semi-urban and rural areas
to trial and refine technologies, methodologies, and
operational processes.
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Voter List with Photo Program
Project Scope and Progress
 Phased data collection commenced in
August 2010.
 Approx. 10,000 Registration Centers.
 Approx. 90,000 temporary staff.
 3,600 Voter Registration Kits
comprised of backpack, laptop,
camera, fingerprint scanner, and
external keyboard.
 800 Portable Generators.
 10.3 million voters registered as at
March 2012.
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Registration Process
Enumerator Visits home
Voter Residence
Returns with
Completed Forms
Voter attends registration centre at
predefined time
Uploading of Data
District Election Office
District
Server
Report of matches for follow-up
Voter
Registration
Centre
form checking voter
authentication
ECN Central Office
in Kathmandu
Central Storage
Data Matching &
Checking
Voter List with Photo Program
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Voter List with Photo Program
Data Consolidation & Management
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Data consolidated on 75 district office desktop servers and
central data center storage area network (SAN).
Tape and disk based backup systems established .
Text based and biometric de-duplication performed using
virtualized server systems.
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Voter List with Photo Program
Data Consolidation & Management
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Nationwide display and missed voter processes.
Web based display and claims mechanisms.
Continuous voter registration established through district
offices and other designated locations.
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Voter List with Photo Program
Challenges
 Available documentation of citizens.
 Obstruction by some political groups.
 Support, maintenance, and logistics for equipment due to
diverse geographic conditions.
 Finger print capture for manual laborers and elderly citizens.
 Secure data management in disparate geographic
environment.
 Updated Legal Framework during political impasse.
 Development of skills and capacity to maintain systems.
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Future Direction
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Long term technical and operational integration with
National ID & civil registration.
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Full implementation of a secure network to all district
offices to support continuous voter registration,
administration, communications, and EMS including
nominations & results.
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Extended use of GIS for Election Management.
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Technology implementation for the Electoral Education
and Information.
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Extended use of Electronic Voting Machines.
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Thank You
The Rolls Right, The Poll Right
Your vote is a valuable for democracy
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