Bhutan

Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan (2008)

Updated: June 2015

Table of Contents:




Back to Top

Article 100 states:

Every person who is a citizen of Bhutan as evidenced by a citizenship identity card shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for a constituency, if such a person is:

(a) Not younger than eighteen years of age on the qualifying date as specified by the Election Commission;

(b) Registered in the civil registry of the Government pertaining to that constituency and having his/her Gung or Mitsi in that place for not less than one year before the qualifying date; and

(c) Not otherwise disqualified from voting under this Act or any other law in force in Bhutan.

 

Article 102 states:

A person shall be disqualified for registration in the Electoral Roll of a constituency, if such a person is:

(a) Not a citizen of Bhutan;

(b) Of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent Court; or

(c) For the time being disqualified from voting under this Act or any other law in force in Bhutan.

 

Excerpts from the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan (2008)

Back to Top

Article 102 states:

A person shall be disqualified for registration in the Electoral Roll of a constituency, if such a person is:

(a) Not a citizen of Bhutan;

(b) Of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent Court; or

(c) For the time being disqualified from voting under this Act or any other law in force in Bhutan.

 

Article 103 states:

A person who becomes disqualified after registration of his/her name in the Electoral Roll shall forthwith be struck off the Electoral Roll in which it is included. Provided that the name of any person struck off from an Electoral Roll of a constituency by reason of any
disqualification incurred under this Act shall forthwith be reinstated in that Electoral Roll, if the disqualification is removed under a law authorizing its removal.

 

Article 176 states:

A person shall be qualified to be elected as a Member of the National Assembly, if he/she:...

(b) Is a registered voter of that constituency...

 

Article 177 states:

A person shall be qualified to be elected as a Member of the National Council, if he/she:...

(b) Is a registered voter of that constituency...

 

Article 178 states:

A person shall be qualified to be elected as a Member of a Local Government, if he/she:...

(b) Is a registered voter of that constituency...

 

Article 358 states:

The Presiding Officer shall permit a physically challenged voter to take with him/her a companion to the voting compartment for recording the vote on the ballot paper or on the voting machine, if he/she is satisfied that owing to his/her physical infirmity, a voter is unable to recognise the symbols on the ballot paper or to make a mark thereon or to record his/her vote in the voting machine, without assistance. Provided that no person shall be permitted to act as the companion of more than one voter at any polling station for a particular election.

 

Article 359 states:

Any person before he/she is permitted to act as the companion shall be required to declare that he/she is not less than eighteen years of age, he/she will keep the vote recorded by him/her on behalf of the voter a secret and he/she has not already acted as the companion of any other voter at any polling station for a particular election.

 

Excerpts from the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan (2008)

Back to Top

Article 356 states:

The Presiding Officer shall direct the number of voters to be admitted at any one time inside the polling station, and exclude there-from all persons other than:...

(c) A person accompanying a blind or infirm voter who cannot move without help...

 

Article 358 states:

The Presiding Officer shall permit a physically challenged voter to take with him/her a companion to the voting compartment for recording the vote on the ballot paper or on the voting machine, if he/she is satisfied that owing to his/her physical infirmity, a voter is unable to recognise the symbols on the ballot paper or to make a mark thereon or to record his/her vote in the voting machine, without assistance. Provided that no person shall be permitted to act as the companion of more than one voter at any polling station for a particular election.

 

Article 359 states:

Any person before he/she is permitted to act as the companion shall be required to declare that he/she is not less than eighteen years of age, he/she will keep the vote recorded by him/her on behalf of the voter a secret and he/she has not already acted as the companion of any other voter at any polling station for a particular election.

 

Article 360 states:

The Presiding Officer shall keep the record of the voters and their companion in a form prescribed for this purpose.

 

Excerpts from the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan (2008)

Back to Top

Article 176 states:

A person shall be qualified to be elected as a Member of the National Assembly, if he/she:...

(b) Is a registered voter of that constituency...

 

Article 177 states:

A person shall be qualified to be elected as a Member of the National Council, if he/she:...

(b) Is a registered voter of that constituency...

 

Article 178 states:

A person shall be qualified to be elected as a Member of a Local Government, if he/she:...

(b) Is a registered voter of that constituency...

 

Excerpts from the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan (2008)