The Election Commission of Bhutan has scheduled the by-election for the National Assembly seat for Trongsa’s Nubi_Tangsibji constituency on 4th September. The announcement follows the resignation of MP Tashi Dorji, who was recently sentenced to over three years in prison in connection with a child molestation case.
The Election Commission of Bhutan, in a notification issued today, announced that eligible voters residing outside the Nubi_Tangsibji constituency in Trongsa are encouraged to register for the postal ballot facility ahead of the upcoming by-election. Voters are advised to complete the registration process within a week.
Eligible voters can register for the postal ballot through their respective gewog offices.
The by-election follows the resignation of MP Tashi Dorji from the Parliament on 30th June.
The High Court sentenced the former MP to three years, three months and 21 days in prison last month in connection with a molestation case involving a 14-year-old girl in 2022. The incident reportedly occurred while he was serving as a Gewog Administrative Officer.
The case is now in the Supreme Court after the former MP appealed against the High Court’s judgment.
The by-election is being conducted in accordance with Sections 577 and 579 of the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2008. According to the Act, a by-election is required when a seat in Parliament or Local Government becomes vacant due to death, resignation, or if the election is declared void. Section 579 further mandates that a by-election for Parliament must be held within 90 days from the date the vacancy occurs.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Kipchu
