As the momentum from Nepal’s Gen Z movement on Sept. 8, 2025, and the subsequent unrest on Sept. 9 draws closer to the announced House of Representatives election, the political atmosphere is intensifying.
Ahead of the March 5, 2026, election, interest from first-time voters has surged alongside traditional party campaigning.
Amid a youth-led movement demanding an end to corruption and better governance, young voters express enthusiasm for selecting new representatives.
Bibek Pangeni, 20, a journalism and social work student at Madan Bhandari Memorial College in Kathmandu, will vote for the first time. Originally from Tilottama Municipality-7 in Rupandehi, he plans to return home a week before the polls. A voter in Rupandehi Constituency No. 1, he said he is thrilled to cast his first ballot.
“This election is not ordinary. It’s post a massive revolution,” Pangeni said. “I’m extremely excited to vote—there’s no limit to it.”
Pangeni, who follows election news via social media, said he hopes to see “intellectual, educated individuals” enter Parliament. He noted that the Gen Z movement arose from demands for job creation and an end to state repression. “The agony, suffering, and state repression we’ve borne for three decades should not continue,” he said, adding that the “syndicate” of old parties must be broken.
Ashik Ghimire, 21, of Banepa Municipality-2 in Kavre, will also vote for the first time. A third-year bachelor’s student at Bageshwari College in Bhaktapur, Ghimire is a voter in Kavre Constituency No. 2.
“Youth have zeal, vigor, energy,” Ghimire said. “The country reached this state because the same old, repeatedly tested leaders kept getting positions for years. Now, youth must lead to lift the nation.”
Lalita Ghimire, 25, of Devadah Municipality-5 in Rupandehi, will be voting for the second time. She previously cast a ballot in the 2022 (2079 BS) House election. “I’m thrilled to have the chance to vote and choose new representatives in this election after such tough circumstances,” she said.
Pankaj Bhandari, 23, of Rampur Municipality in Palpa, said he will prioritize experienced candidates who are “untarnished by past power hunger.” He emphasized that the incoming government must create an environment that discourages youth migration.
“Without domestic job creation, thousands of youth leave daily. This must stop,” Bhandari said.
Generation Z generally refers to those born between 1997 and 2012. Often called “digital natives,” this group follows millennials and precedes Generation Alpha.
Under the National Youth Policy-2072, Nepal previously defined youth as ages 16 to 40. However, the National Youth Policy 2082, passed by the KP Sharma Oli-led government, redefined the category as ages 18 to 35.
According to the 2011 (2068) National Census, youth aged 16 to 40 made up 40.35% of the population. By the 2021 (2078) Census, that figure rose to 42.56%. Currently, voters aged 18 to 40 make up 52% of the electorate.
The Election Commission stated that 10,903,689 people are eligible to vote in the upcoming election. This includes 9,663,358 men, 9,240,131 women, and 200 others. The total number of voters has increased by 915,119 compared to the last election.
To accommodate the growth, the commission added 75 polling stations and 885 centers. Nationwide, 10,967 stations will host 23,112 centers.
Suraj Ghimire
View More PostsSuraj Ghimire is a Nepali journalist based in Kathmandu. He focuses on political, social, migration, and international issues. He has also worked with various national television networks in Nepal.
