The Election Commission of Nepal has approved the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, setting regulations for the Falgun 21 (March 05, 2026) elections. The protocols aim at completing the upcoming general elections in a healthy, transparent, and fair manner.
The authority has announced the approval of the Election Code of Conduct on its official website. The protocols are to be followed by the Government of Nepal and provincial government bodies and ministers, constitutional bodies and their officials, local level officials and members, employees of government and semi-government organizations, security agencies, political parties and their sister organizations, candidates, media, private and non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, voters, development partner organizations, banks and financial institutions, cooperatives, the commercial and industrial sectors.
The code of conduct further clarifies and expands the provisions related to the use of social media. It prohibits expressing opinions in favor of or against anyone, propagating, producing, or publishing electronic materials, sharing materials on social media, disseminating false or misleading information, operating fake sites or accounts, and producing, publishing, or broadcasting materials that are personally defamatory or defamatory.
The issue also establishes clear provisions relating to the use of social media for campaigns and promotions. It prohibits opinions that favor or malign particular political parties, candidates, or ideologies. Likewise, it discourages any attempt at misinformation, fake news, and operating fake sites and social media accounts.
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AI rules for the General Election in Nepal
The Election Code of Conduct 2082 states the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in elections. The commission has restricted the use of AI to spread false and misleading information with the intent to affect the election results and integrity. However, the protocols allow political parties and candidates to express their principles, ideas, commitments, and action plans through their private or official social media pages.
Due to the growing access to AI platforms, it has become common to see AI-generated content on social media. Worse, many people fall for wrong and false information while not being able to recognize AI content. It’s become a challenge even for the elections, as politically motivated AI-made material can spread online. People need to be aware and alert about such content and carry themselves wisely on the internet.
The Election Commission has urged all stakeholders to fully comply with the code of conduct. It has also urged parties and candidates to keep their election campaign minimum on spendings. It’s, likewise, closely monitoring stakeholders’ Facebook activities and content and taking into account their sponsored content to not allow overspending.
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The Election Code of Conduct, 2082, becomes effective on Magh 01 (January 15, 2026).
