South Asia is home to some of the largest and most dynamic migration flows in the world, yet millions of migrants across the region are unable to exercise one of their most basic democratic rights: the right to vote. Drawing on country case studies produced by International IDEA, this regional report traces the historical, legal and institutional barriers that have left millions of mobile citizens excluded from their countries’ democratic processes.

The report addresses the democratic, legal and policy dimensions of migrant political exclusion, examining the conditions under which equal and universal suffrage can be made effective in contexts of large-scale human mobility. By mapping both the challenges and prospects of migrant enfranchisement, it offers a substantive reference for scholars, policymakers, election officials and advocates working to ensure that political rights remain effective regardless of where their holders reside.