Not only health and economy, but the COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the democratic process around the globe. However, in Bhutan, the election commission is doing everything possible to provide people with a chance to vote, even in this difficult time. For the local government election this time, the commission has recorded an all-time high turnout of postal voters.
According to the Postal Ballots Rules and Regulations of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2018, only the diplomats, people working abroad on government duty, civil servants, and members of armed forces, trainees, their dependents, and students among others are eligible for postal ballot.
However, this time, due to the pandemic, the commission has extended the service to the general public to ensure minimum movement of people which could pose risk to the transmission of the virus.
This has resulted in an overwhelming number of voters. From about 35,000 voters in the previous elections, the commission has recorded over 140,000 voters, including 4,700 from overseas. According to the commission, this is about four times more than the previous elections.
“We have provided postal ballots to all the registered voters who reside outside their constituencies, regardless of what they do because we don’t want them to move around which could pose risk in the transmission of the virus,” said Phub Dorji, the Director of the Commission.
Meanwhile, the tenure of the 2nd Local Government, including the Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde Tshogde ended on 26th October.
The Dhamngoi Zomdu for the upcoming election is underway and it will end on the 20th of this month. The poll day for the 3rd Local Government election is on the 22nd of next month.
Pema Seldon Tshering
Edited by Chayku
