The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) has released a set of election dates related to the North-Thimphu bye-election where the 4th of November has been set as poll day.
The Election Commission of Bhutan issued its notification after a Royal Decree of His Majesty The Druk Gyalpo was issued on 3rd of October 2016 and in pursuance to Sections 577 and 579 of the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2008.
The ECB in its notification issued details concerning the nomination of candidates, electoral Roll, EVMs, polling stations, polling officials, polling management, security and other arrangements.
Eligible Postal Voters can initiate application for the Postal Ballot to the Returning Officer from 7th October onwards.
The last date for Filing of Nominations by Candidates is on the 13th of October and the start of campaigning will be on 14th October.
The last date of withdrawing of candidates is on 16th October which is also the same day for the last date for receipt of application for Postal Ballots by the Returning Officer.
2nd November will see the end of the election campaign with 3rd November being the last day for receipt of postal ballots.
After the poll day on 4th November the declaration of results will officially be on 5th November and it will also be the day for the start of the election petition period going up to 21st November.
Both the ruling People’s Democratic Party and the Opposition Druk Phuensum Tshogpa have fielded their candidates for the North Thimphu seat.
The seat fell vacant after the resignation of the sitting DPT MP Kinga Tshering who went for a course in Harvard University.
Though the election is only for one seat it is being seen as an important indicator for the 2018 polls and also as a prestige seat.
