The prime minister says that the government cannot extend the postal ballot facility during elections to people other than the ones prescribed in the Election Act. The prime minister was responding to the Jomotsangkha-Martshala MP, Norbu Wangzom, in the question hour session today about the need for the postal ballot and facilitation booths. According to the Jomotsangkha-Martshala MP, people employed in the private sector and those living overseas were dissatisfied since they were not able to participate in the recent National Council Elections.
The Jomotsangkha-Martshala MP, Norbu Wangzom said that removing the postal ballot facilitation booths is not a fair way of electing the right candidate.
“Due to financial problems, it is difficult for private employees to travel to their villages to cast votes. Some of them say that they will cast their votes for the candidate who can provide them with the transportation facility or charges. This practice has chances of creating election-related corruption.”
The prime minister responded that the government needs to adhere to the Election Act of Bhutan, 2008.
Section 330 of the Act states that a voter shall cast his/her vote in person at the polling station through a secret ballot.
“I tried to discuss with the election commission that it would be better if the commission and the government worked independently. On this matter, the election commission pointed out that we should stick to the Election Act. They also added that it would be an issue for discussion only if the election commission forbids people of their right to cast a vote but this matter of question is just about the postal ballots.”
The prime minister also asked the House to inform him if there are better measures to address the postal ballot issue and that he will take the discussion to the election commission, again.
Namgay Dema
Edited by Sherub Dorji
