With opening of postal ballot facilitation booths across the country today, registered postal voters have started voting for the National Council (NC) elections.
The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) has introduced the facility to increase voter turnout and also for voters’ convenience.
In Thimphu, there are 10 facilitation booths, catering to postal voters. From a total of almost 89,000 registered postal voters, over 15,000 have registered to vote through facilitation booth. BBS has been told that many electorates are finding this voting system convenient and hassle-free.
“This facility is convenient for us. Unlike before, employees of private companies do not have to go to their constituencies to vote. With such facility in place, we can save time and money also,” said Sonam Choden, a voter.
Others also shared positive views about the facilitation booth. “Earlier, voting was expensive. We had to travel to our constituencies and vote. But now, we don’t have to go through such hassle. We can vote by coming to this booth,” said another voter, Pema Loday.
The booths will remain open from 9am- 5pm for the next two days: April 13 and 14. Meanwhile ECB is expecting more turnouts. It is also operating mobile facilitation booths for prisoners and people with special needs.
The poll day for the NC election is on April 20.
