Towards Inclusive Democracy: Reforming Nepal's Electoral System for Fair Representation and Governance

The purpose of this research paper is to examine various electoral systems used worldwide and to determine the most suitable electoral system for Nepal as it transitions into a federal system. It aims to explore inclusive democracy and the electoral practices observed in contemporary politics and Constituent Assembly (CA) polls. The discussion centers on the challenges faced in Nepal's political landscape, particularly focusing on the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) and List Proportional Representation (List PR) systems utilized in the CA elections of 2008 and 2013. The paper evaluates the merits and drawbacks of different electoral systems implemented globally, providing insights into selecting an appropriate system for Nepal. It also analyzes the outcomes of the 2008 CA elections and proposes reforms for enhancing the fairness and inclusivity of the FPTP and List PR systems, or potentially adopting a Parallel Mixed System or another electoral framework that better aligns with Nepal's context and aspirations for proportional representation.