Necessary immediate measures to be initiated to provide updated photo-enabled NID smart cards to all citizens included in the voter list, so that these smart cards can be used for voter identification.

Year
2025
Reform Domain
Electoral Process Electoral Process
Sub Domain
National Identity Card Management
Source of Reform Proposals
Electoral Reform Commission
Reform Proposed
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Reform Proposed
Reform Proposed
Last Update: 14-Dec-25
This reform proposal has been articulated in the Electoral Reform Commission Report but has yet to be officially initiated.
Reform Initiated
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 14-Dec-25
EC will launch a procurement plan for printing and distribution of smart NID cards.
Legal and Policy Framework
Legal and Policy Framework
Last Update: 14-Dec-25
Budget allocation and technical specifications will be approved by Finance and ICT divisions.
Operationalisation
Operationalisation
Last Update: 14-Dec-25
According to Election Commission officials, photo-enabled plastic national ID cards have been distributed to all registered voters. However, smart NID cards may not be possible to be distributed among all voters before the elections.
Observation
    While the Election Commission has ensured basic coverage through photo-enabled plastic NID cards, the transition to smart NIDs is constrained by time and logistical capacity.
Resources
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Related Reforms

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Legal and Policy Framework
(a) To allow stationary observation, so that observers may remain at the centre throughout the day, but not inside the polling booth continuously. (b) Official permission to be granted to observer organizations for pre-election observation. (c) Fake and biased observers to be banned. (d) Appointment of individual observers to be allowed. (e) Election observation reports to be used to improve future elections. (f) To make the steps from the beginning to the end of appointing international observers clear for the concerned organizations. To appoint observers according to the decision of the Commission instead of the government. (g) Journalist with valid election commission-issued cards to be allowed to enter polling stations to document irregularities, and they be allowed to use motorcycles on election day.
Operationalisation
(a) The proposed Election Commission Act to have provisions to ensure that offenses or irregularities committed by the Election Commission to be brought to justice. (b) By amending the relevant law, to retain the provision requiring the Commission’s permission to file cases against government officers and employees, and to remove the legal barriers to conducting an investigation or inquiry in this regard. (c) To relax the prescribed time limit for filing cases under sections 73 and 74, in section 90 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972. (d) A time limit to be set for the disposal of electoral offense cases to expedite the length of adjudication and ensure timely justice.
Reform Proposed
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Glossary

Last Updated: 14th December 2025

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