Picture Courtesy: Sonam Tolly
In the next four days, close to 500 thousand eligible voters will have cast their votes and have elected the next government. However, not all eligible voters will be able to exercise their voting rights. Among those are Bhutanese living abroad, accompanying their spouses and relatives as their dependents. Although not every one of them is bothered about the ongoing parliamentary elections back home, some of them, a group of Bhutanese in Australia to be specific, expressed their disappointment over not being able to cast their votes this time.
As the nation gears up for the poll day scheduled on Tuesday, several Bhutanese overseas who are unable to cast their votes have been left disappointed.
This year, only those on student visas are eligible to vote, unlike the past elections. The majority of the Bhutanese in Perth on non-student visas as dependents and on graduate visas say it is not fair. They added that all Bhutanese should be allowed to exercise their right to vote irrespective of where they reside.
Kezang Choden, a Bhutanese in Perth said, “My husband is a student here and he is allowed to vote and I am not able to. When my husband’s postal ballot arrived in the mailbox, it wasn’t a good feeling. It felt like he was the Bhutanese, and that I was treated like someone who had abandoned the country.”
“In Australia, for example, only the students can vote and dependents like us do not have the right to vote. I don’t understand why. All Bhutanese citizens should be allowed to vote wherever we are,” said Pasang Dorji, a Bhutanese in Perth.
Phuntsho Wangdi, one of the Bhutanese living in Perth said, “When it comes to voting, it should not just be for the students, I am a dependent and I would be grateful if we can also be allowed to cast our secret ballot in the future.”
“If we want a strong and capable government, everyone needs to participate and play a role. Although it does not make us happy, I am sure the government has done its research and reasons why we are not allowed to vote,” said Chagay Dukpa, who is also in Perth.
Sonam Norbu, a Bhutanese living in Perth said, “If you want to elect a capable government, we should be allowed to vote. The majority of the Bhutanese here are not students, they are dependents of students and other visa holders who are not able to vote this year, therefore thousands of Bhutanese here are unhappy.”
“We need to return to Bhutan and we like to participate in national issues. So, to elect a capable government, I think it is important for us to vote but if this is a decision from the leaders, we are happy to follow it for national interests even though it does not make us happy,” said Sonam Penjor, one of the Bhutanese in Perth.
“I am not sure where this new rule came from. However, only a small portion of the Bhutanese population in Perth is eligible to vote unless you are a student. We are not happy about this. I would like to request the concerned institutions to revisit this decision and weigh the gravity of the situation and allow all Bhutanese overseas to take the gift to cast our secret ballot from His Majesty the King,” said Chimi Dorji, a Bhutanese living in Perth.
They are unable to vote for the fourth National Assembly elections because of the ECB’s Postal Ballot Rules and Regulations of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2018. According to the rule, postal ballots are eligible only to diplomats and persons working in the Embassies of the Kingdom of Bhutan, persons residing outside Bhutan for the performance of special government duty, members of the Armed Forces and civil servants.”
Spouses or dependents residing with individuals in these job categories are also eligible for postal ballots. In addition, students, trainees and other groups of voters specified by the Commission in consultation with the government are also entitled to postal ballot services.
Phub Gyem
