Nepal’s interim prime minister, Sushila Karki, announced on Thursday that the minimum voting age has been lowered from 18 to 16 to boost youth participation in politics following recent Gen-Z protests.
In her first televised address since assuming office, Karki said the decision responds to youth demands for greater representation and aims to encourage involvement in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 5 March 2026.
Karki explained that the government has already begun preparations for the general election, including coordinating with the Election Commission on manpower, budget, election materials, security, and legal arrangements. The existing election law has been amended through an ordinance to extend voting rights to the younger generation and update the voter list.
She called on all citizens, including those displaced or scattered, to exercise their franchise and choose representatives reflecting the aspirations of younger voters. Karki urged political parties, civil society, media, and stakeholders to participate actively to ensure free, fair, and fearless elections, emphasizing the need for a peaceful environment nationwide.
The prime minister also affirmed the government’s commitment to taking strict action against those responsible for the deaths of 74 people, including students, during the Gen-Z protests. She assumed office on 12 September, following the ouster of former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli amid violent youth-led demonstrations over corruption and a social media ban.
