Bhutan
- System of government
- Last Updated : 2016-08-12
- The Monarchy.
- Bicameral.
System of government-References:
- Total population
- Last Updated : 2016-08-12
733,643
Total population-References:
- Total area (in square kilo meters)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-12 38,394㎢
Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:
- Number of registered voters
- Last Updated : 2016-08-12 381,790
Number of registered voters-References:
- Number of registered political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-08-12
5 (People’s Democratic Party, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party, Lily Wangchuk, Tenzin Lekphel)
Number of registered political parties-References:
- Number of polling stations
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Average number of voters per polling station
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting age
- Last Updated : 2016-09-02 18
Voting age-References:
- Elected Offices
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Election system
- Last Updated : 2016-09-30 Two-Round System
Election system-References:
- Terms of office
- Last Updated : 2016-09-30 In the National Council (Gyelyong Tshogde), 20 members are elected by majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms and 5 members are appointed by the monarch to serve 5-year terms*. In the National Assembly (Gyelyong Tshogdu) 47 members are elected by majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.**
Terms of office-References:
- Election
- Last Updated : 2023-02-02
2023 National Council Elections
2023 National Assembly Elections
Election-References:
- Date
- Last Updated : 2016-09-08
31 May and 13 July 2013
Date-References:
- Political parties in the elections
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08
| Eligible by number of seats won | |
| - People's Democratic Party (PDP) | |
| - Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party | |
Political parties in the elections-References:
- Number of elected candidates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voter turnout
- Last Updated : 2016-09-08 66%
Voter turnout-References:
- Number of ballots cast
- Last Updated : 2016-09-08 252,493
Number of ballots cast-References:
- Legal framework for elections
- Last Updated : 2016-08-19 Part of Constitution - Separate legislation
Legal framework for elections-References:
- Legal provisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-04
The will of the people shall be expressed in a National Referendum. A simple majority of the total number of votes cast and counted shall be required for the referendum to be adopted.
Constitution of Bhutan, Art.34(1)
Legal provisions-References:
- Referenda
- Last Updated : 2016-11-14
N/A
Referenda-References:
- People’s Initiatives
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08 N/A
People’s Initiatives-References:
- Recall Votes
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08 N/A
Recall Votes-References:
- Official name
- Last Updated : 2016-09-02
Election Commission of Bhutan
Official name -References:
- Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions
- Last Updated : 2016-09-02 The vision of the Election Commission of Bhutan is to conduct Free and Fair Elections. The mission is to maintain an electoral system that is ever ready to conduct Free, Fair and Democratic Elections and Referendums.
Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions-References:
- Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)
- Last Updated : 2016-09-07 Independent
Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:
- EMB budget source
- Last Updated : 2016-09-07 The legislature
EMB budget source-References:
- EMB expenditure audit
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08 N/A
EMB expenditure audit-References:
- Number of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-12
Secretariat: 1
Department of Election: 5
Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Term of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-09-07 For a specified number of years
Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Who appoints members (commissioners)?
- Last Updated : 2016-09-07 Head of State - Head of Government - Executive - Opposition - Legislature - Judiciary
Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:
- Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15 N/A
Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson-References:
- Administrative divisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-04
Bhutan comprises twenty districts(dzongkhag, both singular and plural)
Administrative divisions -References:
- Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)
- Last Updated : 2016-09-02 The Delimitation Commission periodically re-allocates a maximum of 55 National Assembly seats among Dzongkhags, and controls the number of representatives at leach level of local government, subject to review and approval of the Election Commission
Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:
- Criteria for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-19 "Equality" of population
Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:
- Body responsible for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-19 Boundary Commission
Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:
- Requirements on the right to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the right to vote revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral Eligibility
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the eligibility revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Requirements for party registration
- Last Updated : 2016-09-02
All candidates must be citizens between ages 25 and 65, and must be members of the constituencies they represent. Candidates for Parliament must possess a formal university degree, while candidates for local offices need to produce be certificate of functionally literacy test to attest that they are adequately skilled. Furthermore, only candidates for the National Assembly may belong to a political party. Candidates must make public disclosures regarding professions, income, assets and liabilities, educational qualifications, and criminal record; the disclosure is reviewed by the Returning Officer. All candidates must also obtain a security clearance. For non-partisan elections, a declaration of partisan non-affiliation must also be filed. As part of their candidature, they also choose a symbol and appear on a list published by the Returning Officer.
Requirements for party registration-References:
- Candidate nomination
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Nomination by political parties
- Self nomination (independents)
- Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-14
- Requirement
Age
Citizenship
Registration
Minimum level of education
Candidate Registration (National Assembly members) -References:
- Candidate registration deposit
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Amount of fee
- Return of fee
- Uncontested Election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Preparation of the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-04 The voter lists are prepared by EMB using the Civil Registry.
Preparation of the voters list-References:
- Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-04
N/A
Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)-References:
- Who is responsible for the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-04 Election Management Body
Who is responsible for the voters list -References:
- Voters list preparation procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Inspection and objection procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Definition
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Prohibited forms of campaigning
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Who is not permitted to campaign
- Campaign Finance
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Campaign expense limit
- Income and expenditure of campaign expense
- Report, public inspection, and open of income and expenditure
- Investigation on income and expenditure of campaign expense & actions
- Reimbursement of campaign expense
- Presiding officers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① How many of officers in a polling station
② Roles of each officer
③ How we nominate the officers
- Facilities or items a polling station is equipped with
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Polling station location criteria
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting hours
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting
- Last Updated : 2016-08-12
① Voting is voluntary.
② How many ballot papers are distributed to each voter?
Voting -References:
- Ballot Paper
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Determination of the order of candidates on ballots
② What has to be included in the ballot paper?
③ Ballot paper design or sample ballot paper
④ Valid and invalid ballot paper
- Voting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start ofvoting
- Process of voting
- End of voting
- Marking method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Who are subjected to do
② Voting procedures
- Counting Location
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Vote counting method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-09-02
The counting of votes will be carried out in four stages. The first stage of counting will be in the counting center for the polling area. The Presiding Officer designated by the Returning Officer as Counting Supervisor assisted by the Counting Assistant will count the EVM votes cast in the polling station and transmits the result by SMS
format to National Counting Center and to the Assistant Returning Officer and than to the Returning Officer.
The second stage of counting will be at the Demkhong Counting Center. Here the Assistant Returning Officer will receive the Postal Ballot Paper votes for the Demkhong. Thereafter the Assistant Returning Officer assisted by the Counting Supervisor will count the Postal Ballot Paper votes and consolidated it with the results of the
EVM votes based on the result sheet received from the various counting centers. The Final Result Sheet so prepared will be immediately transmitted to the Returning Officer’s office at the Dzongkhag and than to the National Counting Center by Facsimile. The original will be hand carried and delivered by the Counting
Supervisor in person.
The third stage will be at the Returning Officer office where the final result sheet of the various constituencies for different posts received from the Assistant Returning Officers throughout the Dzongkhag will be publish result of count and the same authenticated copy will be transmitted to the National Counting Center.
The fourth stage of counting will be at the National Counting Center where the final result sheet of the Demkhong of different Dzongkhag received from the Returning Officers throughout the country will be
counted and consolidated.?
Counting Procedures-References:
- When are ballots recounted?
- Last Updated : 2016-09-02
A candidate or his/her election representative may, if present when the counting or any recount is completed, request for the votes to be recounted and again re-counted. However you may refuse to do so if in your opinion the request is unreasonable. For instance, demanding a re-count when there is a clear majority in the results, or when after two counts the same result had been obtained.?
When are ballots recounted?-References:
- Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?
- Last Updated : 2016-10-13 Members of the armed forces
Students
Diplomatic staff
Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?-References:
- Overseas voters list preparation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Where to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting procedure for early voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods used to transport ballot papers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- How is the elected candidate chosen in the case of a tie?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Apportioning of National Assembly seats
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Results Announcement
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Is the announcement of preliminary result required?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Deadline for announcement of final results
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reason for holding a by- or re-election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- By-election dates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral process
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15 Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:
- Television debates
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15 both in in presidential elections and legislative elections
Television debates-References:
- Blackout period for release of election survey results
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15 2-3 days
Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution body
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15 The ECB appointed an internal Election Dispute Settlement Body (EDSB) that was
responsible for adjudicating complaints during the pre-election period.
Electoral dispute resolution body-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15
469.
An election petition calling in question any election shall be presented to the Court prescribed under section 467 or 468 within ten days from the date of declaration of result in the constituency.
Provided that no election petition shall be filed before the result of election in the constituency has been declared.
Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15
N/A
Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Direct public funding
- Last Updated : 2016-10-13 Chapter 2, Section 3 (page 6): "There shall be a Public Election Fund into which shall be paid every year such amount as the Election Commission may consider appropriate for funding registered political parties and candidates at elections to Parliament." (Public Election Fund Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008)
Direct public funding-References:
- Private funding of political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- If so, is there limit on the amount a donor can contribute to candidate or political party
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation
- Last Updated : 2016-10-13 Chapter 4, Section 42 (page 19): "Any party member or candidate guilty of violation of section 41 shall be dealt in accordance with the Election Act and if any political party is found involved, that party shall be dissolved by order of the Supreme Court." Chapter 6, Section 60 (page 24): "Any person or Party or candidate found guilty of violation of sections 56, 57 and 58 shall be liable to pay a fine into the Fund of an amount equal to but not exceeding the amount given to the candidate, not-withstanding any other action that may be taken under the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2008." Chapter 9, Section 86 (page 34): "The Election Commission shall have authority to direct the forfeiture and demand the refund of the Fund and impose a fine of an amount equal to the prohibited expenditure if a party or candidate is found guilty of violating sections 77, 79 and 84 of this Act." Chapter 11, Section 112 (page 42): "Any party found guilty of violating section 111 of this Act shall be dealt in accordance with the Election Act and the political party shall not be eligible for funding." Chapter 11, Section 114 (page 42): "Any party, candidate or person found guilty of violating section 113 of this Act shall be dealt in accordance with the Election Act and the successful candidate’s election will be invalidated." (Public Election Fund Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008)
Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies
- Last Updated : 2016-10-13 Court. Chapter10, Section 94 (page 37): "An appeal shall lie with the Supreme Court, from any order of the Election Commission under section 93, within 10 days of the declaration of the results." (Public Election Fund Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008)
Chapter 10, Section 96 (page 37): "The Election Commission on finding a reason to believe that a violation of the Act or Rules and Regulations made thereunder has occurred or is about to occur it shall conduct investigation in such cases." (Public Election Fund Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008)
Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies-References:
- Which electoral processes are using ICTs?
- Last Updated : 2016-10-13
Digital voter registration kits/computers, and online connected to central database are used for collecting registration data
photos are captured and used during registration
Which electoral processes are using ICTs? -References:
- When it was introduced
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15 N/A
When it was introduced-References:
- Gender equality
- Last Updated : 2016-11-14
Gender Data:
· Female Population: 349,158 (2013)
· Is Bhutan a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)
· Has Bhutan ratified CEDAW: Yes (31 August 1981)
· Gender Quota: No
· Female candidates in this election: Yes
· Number of Female Parliamentarians: 3 (National Assembly); 2 (National Council) (following 2013 elections)
· Human Development Index Position: 132 (2014)
· Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Low (2014)
Gender equality-References:
- Aids for disabled or handicapped voters
- Last Updated : 2016-11-14
Disability Data:
· Is Bhutan a signatory to CRPD: Yes (21 September 2010)
· Has Bhutan ratified CRPD: No
· Population with a disability: 107,534 (est.)
Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:
- Voter education
- Last Updated : 2016-08-19 Continuously
Voter education-References:
- National civic education
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08 N/A
National civic education-References:
- EMB Staff education
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15 N/A
EMB Staff education-References:
- Domestic observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International observation
- Last Updated : 2016-12-19 The Head of the Liaison Office of Denmark (LOD), Counsellor Henrik A. Nielsen, was
welcomed by the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) as an International Observer from
Denmark to the National Assembly elections as per National and International Observer
Guidelines of the Kingdom of Bhutan, Art. 5 b, by letter of 13th February 2008 from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bhutan. The Guidelines stipulate (Art.10 a) that an observer shall
closely monitor the electoral process and report to the Commission.
International observation-References:
- Partnerships/MoUs
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International Activities
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Major challenges to elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Measures taken to deal with those Challenges
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03