For reasons such as these, in every election, a good chunk of votes is rendered invalid. For instance,during the first direct election of the Kalon Tripa in 2001, nearly five percent of the total 35,184 votes cast were nullified

An elderly woman casting her vote during the first direct election of the Kalon Tripa in 2001.

“One common error is to confuse the number of women candidates”, says Trika Kherab, one of the two election commissioners of the Central Tibetan Administration.

Voters in India, Nepal and Bhutan, from the constituency of Do-tod, Do-med and Utsang, must cast at least two women out of the total ten candidates. (This rule however does not apply to other constituencies, or if a voter chose to elect only eight or less candidates.)

People must also know that those in India, Nepal and Bhutan cannot elect those overseas and vice versa, adds Mr. Kherab.

New voters are therefore well advised to give a thorough read to the instructions or note (thug-snang) on the ballot paper to ensure that their vote counts, for a vote only counts if it is counted.

Making matters worse, many misinformations also abound on from voter registration to voting place, laments Election Commissioner Tezin Dhargay.

For instance, he says, you need not register again if you are already registered in the previous elections.

He also clarifies that “even if you have not cast your ballot in the primaries, you can vote in the final round of the election.”

“Besides, it is not necessary that you vote where you registered”, adds Mr. Dhargay, “you can vote at any polling booth in any place, provided, you produce voter registration on your Green Book”.

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