In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) facilitated mobile Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) facilitation booths for the upcoming bye-election in the Monggar constituency for the first time yesterday. The facility takes the voting procedures to the voters’ doorsteps. The two-day voting through the mobile booth facilities was started in all the five gewogs yesterday. All 230 registered voters for the mobile booth facility cast their votes.
According to the ECB, such a move will mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the community by avoiding gatherings during the poll day. It will also help senior citizens and persons with disabilities to cast vote at their doorsteps.
“There are so many issues especially with the surge in the COVID-19 cases in the country. We thought that for elderly people above 65 years and voters with disabilities who cannot come to the polling station, facilitating a mobile voting booth will be helpful,” said Mani K Ghalay, the Returning Officer of Monggar district.
“Since we don’t have to take our grandparents to the polling station on the poll day, we are grateful for providing the voting service at our doorsteps,” said Nima, a farmer in Tsakaling Gewog.
“We are thankful to the ECB for providing electoral services at our doorstep. We don’t have to walk to cast our votes. We will not be able to cast our votes on the poll day if the polling stations are located far away. As a single vote makes a huge difference, such a facility will play a big role,” said Jigme Thinley, another farmer.
The ECB will also facilitate mobile facilitation booths for the Nganglam constituency in Pema Gatshel. The bye-election for both Monggar and Nganglam constituencies will be held on 29th June from 8 AM till 6 PM.
Sonam Tshering, Monggar
