| Namgay Penjore ( M) |
| Tshewang Norbu ( M) |
- 20 directly elected
- 5 appointed by the King
Lanjophaka
Post Box No. 200
Thimphu, BHUTAN
Tel.: (975 2) 322376, 322339, 322736
Fax: (975 2) 325543
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections.
Voting is not compulsory.
- Age: at least 18 years old on the day nomination papers are filed
- Residence in the constituency at least one year prior to election
Qualified voters who are on diplomatic assignments, working in Bhutanese Embassies, on special duty abroad, their spouses and dependants, civil servants, students and those serving in the armed forces, officials on election duty and voters specifically permitted by the Election Commission in consultation with the government can vote through postal ballots.
Disqualifications:
- Persons who are mentally unfit or specifically barred from voting under the laws of the country.
- Imprisonment
- Bhutanese citizenship, including through naturalization
- Age: at least 25 years old at the time of registration
- Residence in the constituency concerned
- University degree
Ineligibilities:
- Civil servants
- Holders of office of profit
- Persons who have an existing contract with the government which has not been fully performed in full
- Persons who have been dismissed or removed from the public service
- Members of political parties
- Persons who have solicited or resorted to any form of fund-raising from private individuals or agencies for campaigning in a parliamentary or local government election
- Persons found guilty of corrupt election-related practices
- Persons who have failed to give account of election expenses within the stipulated deadline and in the manner required by law and have no good reason or justification for failure to do so.
- Persons convicted for any criminal offence and sentenced to prison.
- Persons accused of a felony in a pending case of which the competent court has been seized and against whom charges have been brought (until such time as he/she is acquitted by the court)
- Persons in arrears of taxes or other dues to government (until full payment of tax arrears or other dues to government is made)
- Persons married to non-Bhutanese nationals (unless their spouse is granted Bhutanese citizenship)
- Head of State
- Members of the other chamber
- Ministers of State
- Holders of public office
- Civil servants
- Executives and members of the Election Commission
- Chief of electoral staff
- Members of the armed forces
- Members of the police forces
- Clergymen
*The incompatibilities cited above are valid during the term of office.
- Holders of temporary entry visas
- Undocumented immigrants
- Insanity/mental illness
- Nominated candidates file their nomination papers with the National Election Commission.
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
Bhutan became a monarchy in 1907. In 2005, the then King Jigme Singye Wangchuck unveiled a draft constitution. His son, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, succeeded him in December 2006. Representatives of all 20 districts reviewed the draft constitution. Under the draft, the King remains the Head of State, but the new bicameral parliament can impeach him by a two-thirds majority vote. The prime minister, currently appointed by the King, will be elected by the new National Assembly.
On 31 July 2007, the National Assembly was dissolved with a view to elections due to be held on 24 March 2008. The draft constitution will then be presented to the new National Assembly for adoption.
In the December 2007 elections to the National Council, 43 candidates contested 15 of the 20 seats.
On 31 December, 55 per cent of the 270,000 registered voters in 15 of the 20 districts turned out at the polls. Elections were postponed in five constituencies, where there was either no candidate or only one. To be eligible, candidates need to hold a university degree. However, although the literacy rate in Bhutan is estimated at 60 per cent, only 16,000 of the countrys 634,000 inhabitants (see note) are university graduates. Voting went off without any major incident. The results for 15 of the elective seats were announced on 1 January 2008. Eleven of the 15 members were under 40 years old; three women were elected.
Elections for the five remaining seats were held on 29 January 2008. In three constituencies contested by only one candidate, voters cast either a "yes" or "no" ballot. Heavy snow and cold weather hit the country, apparently accounting for the relatively lower turnout of 42 per cent. On the following day, the Election Commission endorsed the five new members. One woman was elected, bringing the total number of women to four out of 20 elected members.
On 30 March 2008, the King appointed another five members including two women.
On 29 April, the National Council held its first session and elected Mr. Namgay Penjore, an elected member from the Punakha constituency, as its Speaker.
Note:
Source: National Population and Housing Census of Bhutan, 2005.
| Round no 1 (31 December 2007): Election results | ||||
| Statistics for the elections on 29 January 2008 Number of registered electors: 43,480 Voters: 18,155 (41.75%) Valid votes: 18,155 In Bhutan, only the valid votes are counted. The number of votes (voters) thus equals the number of valid votes. |
||||
| Number of registered electors | 269'337 | |||
| Voters | 147'789 (54.87%) | |||
| Blank or invalid ballot papers | ||||
| Valid votes | 147'789 | |||
| Round no 1: Distribution of votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Candidates | Votes | % of votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Total of seats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four women were directly elected and two others were appointed by the King.
Sources:
- http://www.election-bhutan.org.bt/
- Bhutanese Election Commission (14.01.2008)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (08.01.2008, 10.01.2008, 17.01.2008, 30.01.2008, 16.04.2008)
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
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