The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) is pleased to hereby declare, as required under Section 457 of the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008, the election results of the polls for the Third Local Government Elections held in the 205 Gewogs of the 20 Dzongkhags, 14 Dzongkhag Thromdes and Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag Thromde on 22nd December, 2021.
A total of 3,500 candidates contested the Local Government elections, 2021 for the various posts. A total of 1,437(1,252 male and 185 female) have been elected successfully to the various Local Government Elective Offices.
The registered voters and overall voter turnout information of the Third Local Government Elections, 2021 in 20 Dzongkhags are as follows:
- Total registered voters = 463,033 (226,202 male & 236,831 female)
- Total number of votes cast = 316,798 (153,084 male & 163,714 female)
i. EVM votes = 190,494 (89,934 male & 100,560 female)
ii. Postal votes = 126,304 (63,150 male & 63,154 female)
- Voter turnout = 68.42%
The details of the results are available on the Election Commission’s web page: https://results.ecb.bt/public/results/lg2021
A total of 26 Local Government Demkhongs are currently vacant as a result of negative voting/ tied result / vacant without candidates. Polls in these Demkhongs shall be called in due course of time.
Following the reconsideration of audit clearance of 9 candidates by the Royal Audit Authority, the ECB has rescheduled elections for the LG posts in the 8 affected gewogs of the ongoing Local Government elections, 2021 with the poll day fixed on 6th January, 2022.
Recognizing the gravity of the risk posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and vulnerability to local transmission, senior citizens, physically challenged voters/persons living with disabilities, and voters with physical infirmities were facilitated with the Mobile Voting Booth.
The ECB set up 186 Paper Ballot Facilitation Booths (PBFB) in the twenty Dzongkhags to facilitate voters residing outside their Demkhongs to vote in person using paper ballots.
The timely adjudication of disputes and addressing of the complaints and allegations as per the laws are key factors that contribute to free and fair elections and ensure public trust in the integrity of the system and outcomes.
Out of the 12 cases, 1 case was decided by the Commission, 3 by the Central Election Dispute Settlement Body and 8 by the Dzongkhag Election Dispute Settlement Bodies.
In addition to monitoring the print and broadcast media on a daily basis, the Office of Media Arbitrator (OMA) received 3 complaints related to social media which were investigated and actions taken.
Upon issuance of this Notification, the Local Governments shall be deemed to have been duly constituted under Section 458 of the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008.
The general public and all stakeholders may note that the Election Petition Period of 10 working days for this Local Government elections starts from today and will end at 5 p.m. of 5th January 2022.
Issued on the Nineteenth Day of the Eleventh Month of the Female Iron-Ox Year, corresponding to 23rd December, 2021.
