It’s a Polling Day Today for the Exiled Tibetans
Saturday, 18 March 2006, 4:30 PM
Dharamshala: It is a polling day today for all the exiled Tibetans across the world to elect their representatives to the 14th Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies and also to cast vote for the preliminary election of the Kalon Tripa’s post.
In Dharamshala, the voters formed a rail like line before the assembly ground and waited for their turn to cast vote.
“The substantial participation especially from the youngsters is an encouraging gesture and shows their respect for the democratic government and the democratic awareness among Tibetans”, said a 25 years old voter named Lhakyi.
“Voting is one of the most important trait of a comprehensive democratic government and through it we express our approval for the deserving candidates”, noted Dorjee, 64.
“I believe my participation will instill encouragement in my children and will help them partake in political course”, he added.
In Dharamshala, the total figure of the registered voter is 7498, which outnumbered the registered voters during that of the preliminary round of election held in September 2005.
The Chief election commissioner Tashi Phuntsok said that it is difficult to give a rough approximation of a number of voters’ participation in election but they are expecting as many voters as the one during preliminary round of election.
Across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Europe and North America the local election commissions are conducting elections.
The local election commissions will count the ballots cast in their respective areas and will submit the result to the Election Commission here.
In 2001, 41,717 people from total 69,151 registered voters voted in the final round of the Assembly election.
The final round of Kalon Tripa’s election will be held on 3 June 2006.
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)