The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) would like to inform the general public that, with the exception of the Thromde Tshogde of Samdrup Jongkhar, the incumbent members of the threeThromde Tshogdes in Thimphu, Phuentshogling and Gelegphu will be completing their five-year term in May 2026.
In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan and Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008, the ECB will be conducting the first phase of the 4th Local Government Elections for the above three Thromde Tshogdes in 2026.
Section 17 of Article 22 of the Constitution of Bhutan states, “A candidate to or a member of the Local Government shall not belong to any political party” and further Section 206 (d) of the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008 states, “No person shall, notwithstanding anything contained in section 205, be nominated as a candidate for election to fill a seat in the National Council or Local Government if he/she belongs to any political party.” However, the same section provides that the disqualification under sub-section (d) shall cease to operate after the lapse of one year from the date of acceptance of the application of resignation or removal from the membership of a political party.
Additionally, Section 100 (b) of the Election Act of the Kingdom, 2008 states, “A person shall be qualified to be a voter and stand as a candidate if a person is registered in the civil registry of the Government pertaining to that constituency and having his/her Gung orMitsi in that place for not less than one year, before the qualifying date.”
In this regard, the ECB is of the view that many individuals aspiring to contest for the positions in the afore-mentioned three Thromde Tshogdes may currently have their names registered as members of political parties. Similarly, there may be many individuals who have not yet initiated transferring their Gung/Mitsi to a new constituency. Any individual who does not fulfill these legal requirements will not qualify to exercise his/her right to vote or contest as a candidate in the upcoming LG elections.
Therefore, the ECB would like to remind all individuals who wish to vote from the Thromde or contest for positions in the Thromde Tshogdes in 2026 to take the following necessary actions with immediate effect:
1.Get/have their names checked for party affiliation either with the concerned political parties or at the ECB website and deregister from the membership list of the political parties; and
2. Initiate the Gung/Mitsi transfer in order to have the Gung/Mitsi registered in the civil registry of the new constituency for not less than one year before the qualifying date.
The ECB urges all aspiring individuals to initiate and complete the above requirements on or before 30th May 2025, well in advance for smooth participation in the elections.
Issued on the 18th Day of the 9th Month of the Wood Male Dragon Year, corresponding to November 18, 2024.
Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan
