Elections in Nepal

There are three types of elections in Nepal: elections to the Federal Parliament, elections to the provincial assemblies and elections to the local government. Within each of these categories there may be by-elections as well as general elections. Currently three electoral systems are used: parallel voting for House of Representatives and provincial assemblies, Single transferable vote for National Assembly and first past the post for local elections. In 1947, the government of prime minister Padma Shumsher formed a Constitution Reform Committee under the leadership of General Bahadur Shamsher to reform the administration in the country. The Nepal Government Constitutional Law, 1948 envisioned a bicameral legislature with the lower house called Rastra Sabha to have 42 elected members in addition to 28 members nominated by the prime mininster. A provision was also included for an elected Village Panchayat with 5 to 15 members, an elected Municipal Panchayat with 10 to 50 members and an elected District Panchayat with 15 to 20 members. The elections for the bodies would be held on the basis of non-partisan democracy and all adults would have the right to franchise. The law was promulgated but never came into effect. The Interim Administration Act of Nepal, 1952 promulgated by King Tribhuwan after the end of the Rana regime made provisions an Election Commission for the first time. The act also gave everyone in the country over the age of 21 a right to adult franchise. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1959, prepared under the advice of Sir Ivor Jennings created 109 constituencies in the country and reiterated the right to adult franchise for everyone over the age of 21. The constitution of 1990 had a provision for a bicameral parliament. The House of Representatives (lower house) and the National Assembly (upper house). The country was divided into 205 constituencies which would elected members to the House of Representatives for a term of five years.