Washington DC: Registered voters of the Tibetan communities in North America went to the polls to elect their Sikyong and 2 members of the Tibetan Parliament representing North America constituents on April 11th of 2021. The total registered voter in North America was 14,296, which includes 36 new voters, who became eligible between January 3rd and April 10th of 2021. The number of people who participated in the final voting is around 11,937 – 83.49%.
The Sikyong and the Members of the Tibetan Parliament are elected for a period of 5 years to serve the Central Tibetan Administration, which is based in India.
The Regional Election Commission of North America was instituted by the Chief Election Commission, Dharamshala to oversee the primary and final rounds of voting in North America. Representative Ngodup Tsering was appointed as the North America Regional Election Commissioner, and Secretary Tashi Dhondup of the Office of Tibet-DC and Sherap Therchin of the Canada Tibet Committee were appointed as the Assistant Election Commissioners.
The 31 local election commissions (26 in the United States and 5 in Canada) were set up to conduct the election in their respective locations. Each local commission has at least 8 members, including 3 observers as per the Central Tibetan Administration’s Election Law. Each commission was headed by the Presidents of the respective Tibetan Associations. Some areas have more members depending on the size of the population. A total of 293 people served on the election duty.
All Tibetans who have Green Book (Chatrel Book), paid their dues on time, 18 years and above, and registered are qualified for voting.
Four places, viz New York & New Jersey, Northern California, Toronto & Vancouver BC were provided special approval for two day voting (April 10th and 11thl) due to COVID restrictions in the areas.
The election results received from 31 local election commissions were consolidated by the North America Regional Election Commission and verified and observed by the special commissions consisting of the Regional commissioners plus the election commissions of the Capital Area Tibetan Associations. It was then announced via the Office of Tibet-DC Facebook page on 16 April 2021 at 3:30 pm EST.
The Regional election commission would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Presidents of Tibetan Associations in North America, local election commissions, and observers who served this sacred civic duty with complete devotion, hard work, and sincerity. We are also grateful to the Chief Election Commission for their timely guidance and support without which overseeing the election in such vastly scattered areas like North America is not possible.
Watch the official announcement by North America Regional Election Commission here.
– Filed by Office of Tibet, Washington DC