Bhutan Braces for Potential Re-Election as Primary Round Vote Ties Loom Large
The prospect of a re-election poses not only a challenge in terms of electoral logistics but also carries a substantial financial burden.
Thimphu: In a rare scenario, Bhutan faces the possibility of a re-election as the primary round of voting approaches, with five political parties competing – the highest number in the nation’s electoral history. Concerns arise as the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) prepares for the challenge of potential ties in votes, particularly between the parties securing the highest and second-highest votes.
According to Section 463 of the Election Act, if two or more parties or candidates secure an equal number of votes for the highest or second-highest positions, the ECB is mandated to conduct a re-election. Given the increased number of participating parties, the likelihood of ties in the primary round has become a pertinent issue.
In the event of a persistent tie after the re-election, Section 464 empowers the returning officer to decide between the tied parties or candidates through a draw of lots, in the presence of the concerned parties, candidates, or their representatives.
The prospect of a re-election poses not only a challenge in terms of electoral logistics but also carries a substantial financial burden. The ECB would incur a significant additional expenditure on top of the estimated Nu 444.321 million budget allocated for the fourth National Assembly elections.
In response to potential inflation, the ECB has proposed an increase in the State campaign fund from Nu 150,000. However, due to budget constraints, the government has been unable to approve the proposed increment.
Furthermore, each of the five political parties vying for the electorate’s favor must secure more than 10 percent of the total votes cast to remain eligible for State funding in future elections. Failure to meet this threshold would render a party ineligible for State funding in subsequent electoral cycles.
With 496,836 eligible voters, including 254,742 women and 242,094 men, the primary round is scheduled for November 30. As Bhutan anticipates a historic election with an unprecedented number of participating parties, the specter of tied votes adds a layer of complexity, setting the stage for a closely watched and potentially transformative electoral process.
