The Election Commission (EC) has granted final registration to 81 domestic election observer organisations for the next five years ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
The EC’s Public Relations Wing confirmed the development on Monday (December 8).
Earlier, on September 28, the Commission published a preliminary list of 73 local organisations eligible to observe the national polls and invited objections or complaints against them by October 20, along with supporting evidence.
After reviewing the objections, the EC, in the first phase, approved 66 organisations, granting them registration from November 6, 2024 to November 5, 2030.
In the second phase, following further verification, another 15 organisations received final approval. These organisations have been registered for a five-year term from December 4, 2024 to December 3, 2030.
According to EC, registrations of all 96 local observer organisations that were approved before the 12th National Parliamentary Election have been automatically cancelled under Section 16 of the Election Observation Policy 2025.
The system of registering election observers was introduced by the EC ahead of the 2008 national election, when 138 organisations were registered and 159,113 domestic observers monitored the polls.
During 2014 (10th) general election, 35 organisations deployed 8,874 observers.
In 2018 (11th) election, 81 domestic observer organisations from among 118 registrants deployed 25,900 observers.
In the most recent 2024 (12th) election, around 20,256 observers from roughly 80 organisations monitored the polling process.
